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THE HIAWATHA READER 

BEING LON GFELLOW'S 

*®1]^ ^nng of Iftamatlja" 

Edited by ROBERT GEORGE 




HIAWATHA S CHILDHOOD. 



LAKESIDE BOOK COMPANY 



Cleveland 






Copyright 191,1 by 

LAKESIDE BOOK COMPANY 

All Fights Reserved. 

Entered cd Stationers' Hall, 

London, Eng. 



©-uajsioG 



PREFACE i!B3i 



" To teach a child to read, and not teach him 
what to read, is to put a dani^erous iceapon into 



his hands." 



— Charles Dudlky Warner. 



The cliild is taught to read during tlie first three years 
of his school hfe. To permit him to pass tJie fourth year 
without acquiring a love for good poetry is inexcusable. 

" The Song of Hiawatha" never fails to interest and 
please. It is recognized as one of the most fascinating 
poems in our language, and is, perhaps, the one that makes 
the largest appeal to children. Certainly it would be diffi- 
cult to find a poem better fitted to foster the natural, inborn 
love for verse ; or to remove the terror that the word 
" poetry " has come to have for many misguided youths. 

The " Hiawatha Reader " contains the parts of the 
poem which teachers have found to be most beautiful and 
interesting to children. The illustrations are an exception- 
ally noteworthy feature of the volume. The Editor hopes 
it may be a delight, and a potent agency in the important 
work of teaching a genuine love for poetry. 

Grateful acknowledgements are made to the teachers 
who by suggestion and criticism have aided in the prepara- 
tion of the book, and to The William Maxwell Music Com- 
pany, of New York, for permission to use their beautiful 
Indian Songs. 



THE SONG OF HIAWx\THA. 




IN THE LAND OF HIAWATHA. 



the; song of hiawatiia. 

COXTEXTS PACK 

Introduction q 

The Peace Pipe j j 

The Four Winds 21 

Hiawatha's Cliildhood 2^ 

Hiawatha and Aludjekeewis ^i 

Hiawatha's Fastine: 

Hiawatlia's Friends (^y 

Hiawatha's Sailing -c 

Hiawatha's Fishing 87 

Hiawatha and the Pearl Feather 07 

Hiawatha's Wooing ^ joq 

Hiawatha's Wedding Feast .... 12=; 

Blessing the Corn Fields i ^7 

Picture Writine: 



Hiawatha's Lamentations j - j 



147 

51 

The Hunting of Pau-Puk-Keewis 1-7 

The Death of Kwasind j-^ 

The Famine j ^-, 

The White Man's Foot 1-87 

Hiawatha's Departure loi 

The Hiawatha Legend 20' 

Biographical Sketch 200 

"Ewa-Yea! Aly Little Owlet"— Cradle Song . 212 

"My Bark Canoe" — Song 214 

Publishers' X'ote -,18 

Vocabulary ^^q 

7 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




HAUNTS OF NATURE. 



THH SONX OF HIAWATHA. 





INTRODUCTION. 

iioi-LD you ask nic, whence these stories, 
Whence these legends and traditions, 
With the odors of the forest, 
With the dew and damp of meadows, 
With the curling smoke of wigwams. 
With the rushing of great rivers, 
With their frequent repetitions, 
And their wild reverberations, 
As of thunder in the mountains? 

I should answer. I should tell \ou : — 



the; song of hiawatha. 

" From the forests and the prairies, 

From the great lakes of the Northland, 

From the land of the Ojibways, 

From the land of the Dacotahs, 

From the mountains, moors, and fen-lands. 

Where the heron, the Shuh-shuh-gah, 

Feeds among the reeds and rushes. 

I repeat them as I heard them 

From the lips of Nawadaha, 

The musician, the sweet singer." 

Ye who love the haunts of Nature, 
Love the sunshine of the meadow, 
Love the shadow of the forest, 
Love the wind among the branches. 
And the rain-shower and the snow-storm, 
And the rushing of great rivers 
Through their palisades of pine-trees, 
And the thunder in the mountains, 
Whose innumerable echoes 
Flap like eagles in their eyries ; — 
Listen to these wild traditions. 
To this vSong of Hiawatha ! 



10 



TIIL: song Oi- HIAWATHA. 



CHAPTER I. 



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THE PEACE-PIPE. 

On the Mountains of the Prairie, 
On the great Red Pipe-stone Quarry, 
Gitche Manito, the mighty, 
He the Master of Life, descending, 
On the red crags of the (|uarry 
Stood erect, and called the nations, 
Called the tribes of men together. 

From the red stone of the quarry 
With his hand he broke a fragment. 
Moulded it into a pipe-head, 
Shaped and fashioned it with figures ; 
From the margin of the river 
Took a long reed for a pipe-stem, 



11 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




12 



THE SONC OF IIIAWATTTA. 

With its dark green leaves upon it ; 
Filled the pipe with bark of willow, 
Breathed upon the neighboring forest, 
Made its great boughs chafe together, 
Till in flame they burst and kindled ; 
And erect upon the mountains, 
Gitche ]\Ianito, the mighty, 
Smoked the calumet, the Peace-Pipe, 
As a signal to the nations. 

And the smoke rose slowly, slowly, 
Through the tranquil air of morning, 
Ever rising, rising, rising. 
Till it touched the top of heaven, 
Till it broke against the heaven. 
And rolled outward all around it. 

From the \'ale of Tawasentha, 
From the \'alley of Wyoming. 
From the groves of Tuscaloosa. 
From the far-off Rocky Mountains, 
From the Northern lakes and rivers, 
*A11 the tribes beheld the signal. 
Saw the distant smoke ascciiding. 

And the Prophets of the nations 
Said :— " Behold it. the Pukwana ! 
By this signal from afar off, 
Gitche Manito, the mighty. 
Calls the tribes of men together. 
Calls the warriors t(^ his council !" 



13 



TIIK SUXG OF HIAWATHA. 




Down the rivers, o'er the prairies, 
Came the warriors of the nations, 
All the warriors drawn together 
By the signal of the Peace- Pipe, 
To the Mountains of the Prairie, 
To the great Red Pipe-stone Quarry. 

And they stood there on the meadow, 
With their weapons and their war-gear, 
Painted like the leaves of Autumn, 
Painted like the sky of morning. 
Wildly glaring at each other ; 
In their faces stern defiance. 



14 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




'■ I HAVK GIVEX YOU ROE AND REINDEER."'' 

Gitche Manito, the mighty, 
The creator of the nations, 
Looked upon them with compassion, 
\\'ith paternal love and pit\- ; 
Over them he stretched his right hand, 
Warning, chiding, spake in tliis wise : — 

"O my children ! my poor children ! 
Listen to the words of wisdom, 
From the Master of Life, who made } on ! 

"I have given you lands to hunt in, 
I have given you streams to fish in, 
I have given you bear and bison, 
I liave given you roe ami reindeer, 
I have given you brant and beaver, 



16 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




THE PEACE-PIPE. 

16 



THE SON'G OF HIAWATHA. 

Filled the marshes full of wild-fowl, 
Filled the rivers full of fishes ; 
\\'hy then are you not contented? 
Why then will you hunt each other? 

"I am weary of your quarrels, 
Weary of your wars and bloodshed, 
Weary of your prayers for vengeance. 
Of your wranglings and dissensions ; 
All your strength is in your union, 
All your danger is in discord ; 
Therefore be at peace henceforward. 
And as brothers live together. 

"I will send a Prophet to you, 
A Deliverer of the nations, 
Who shall guide you and shall teach you. 
Who shall toil and suffer with }-ou. 
If you listen to his councils. 
You will multiply and prosper ; 
If his warnings pass unheeded, 
You will fade away and perish ! 

"Bathe now in the stream before you, 
Wash the war-paint from your faces. 
Wash the blood-stains from your fingers. 
Bury your war-clubs and your weapons, 
Break the red stone from this quarry. 
Mould and make it into Peace-Pipes, 
Take the reeds that grow beside you. 
Deck them with your brightest feathers. 



17 



the; song of HIAWATHA. 

Smoke the calumet together, 

And as brothers Hve henceforward !"' 

Then upon the ground the warriors 
Threw their cloaks and shirts of deer-skin, 
Threw their weapons and their war-gear, 
Leaped into the rushing river. 
Washed the war-paint from their faces. 

From the river came the warriors. 
Clean and washed from all their war-paint ; 
On the banks their clubs they buried, 
Buried all their warlike weapons. 







SAfOKING THE PEACE-PIPIi. 

18 



Till': SOXG OF HIAWATHA. 

Gitche ^klanito, the mighty, 
The Great Spirit, the Creator, 
Smiled upon his helpless children ! 

And in silence all the warriors 
Broke the red stone of the quarry. 
Smoothed and formed it into Peace-Pipes, 
Broke the long- reeds by the river, 
Decked them with their brightest feathers, 
And departed each one homeward. 
While the Master of Life, ascending, 
Through the opening of cloud-curtains, 
Through the doorways of the heaven, 
\'anished from before their faces, 
In the smoke that rolled around him. 
The Pukwana of the Peace-Pipe ! 




19 



THE SOxN'G OF HIAWATHA. 




"from the regions of the north-wind. 
20 



Tiir; ?oxr, or iiiawatha. 
CHAPTER 11. 




THE FOUR WINDS. 

"Honor be to Aludjekeewis !" 
Cried the warriors, cried the old men. 
When he came in triumph homeward 
With the sacred Belt of Wampum, 
From the regions of the North-Wind. 
From the kingdom of Wabasso, 
From the land of the White Rabbit. 

He had stolen the Belt of Wampum 
From the neck of ]\Iishe-!Mokwa. 
From the Great Bear of the mountain? 



21 



THE SONG OP HIAWATHA. 

From the terror of the nations, 
As he lay asleep and cumbrous 
On tlic summit of the mountains. 

"Honor be to Mudjekeewis ! 
Henceforth he shall be the West-Wind, 
And hereafter and for ever 
Shall he hold supreme dominion 
Over all the winds of heaven." 

Thus was Mudjekeewis chosen 
Father of the Winds of Heaven. 
For himself he kept the West-Wind, 
Gave the others to his children ; 
Unto Wabun gave the East-Wind, 
Gave the South to Shawondasee, 
And the North-Wind, wild and cruel. 
To the fierce Kabibonokka. 

Young and beautiful was Wabun ; 
He it was who brought the morning, 
He it was whose silver arrows 
Chased the dark o'er hill and valley ; 
He it was whose cheeks were painted 
With the brightest streaks of crimson, 
And whose voice awoke the village, 
Called the deer, and called the hunter. 

But the fierce Kabibonokka 
Had his dwelling among icebergs. 
In the everlasting snow-drifts. 
In the kingdom of Wabasso, 



22 



THK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

In the land of the White Rabbit. 
He it was whose hand in Autumn 
Painted all the trees with scarlet. 
Stained the leaves with red and yellow; 
He it was who sent the snow-flakes. 
Sifting, hissing through the forest. 
Froze the ponds, the lakes, the rivers, 
Drove the loon and sea-gull southward, 
Drove the cormorant and heron 
To their nests of sedge and sea-tang 
In the realms of Shawondasee. 

Shawondasee, fat and laz\-. 
Had his dwelling far to southward. 
In the drowsy, dreamy sunshine. 
In the never-ending Summer. 
He it was who sent the wood-birds. 
Sent the Opechee, the robin, 
Sent the blue-bird, the Owaissa, 
Sent the Shawshaw, sent the swallow, 
Sent the wild-goose, Wawa, northward. 
Sent the melons and tobacco, 
And the grapes in purple clusters. 

From his pipe the smoke ascending 
Filled the sky with haze and vai)or. 
Filled the air with dreamy softness, 
Gave a twinkle to the water, 
Touched the rugged hills with smoothness, 
Brought the tender Indian Summer, 



23 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

To the melancholy North-land, 

In the dreary Moon of Snow-shoes. 

Thus the Four Winds were divided 
Thus the sons of Mudjekeewis 
Had their stations in the heavens, 
At the corners of the heavens ; 
For himself the West-Wind only 
Kept the mighty Mudjekeewis. 




24 



TIIIC SOXC, OF HIAWATHA. 



CHAPTER III. 




IIIAW.VTHA'S CHILDHOOD. 

Hiawatha was the Prophet and Messenger of Gitchc 
Manito, the Great Spirit. He was sent to the Indian peo- 
ple to clear their fishing-grounds, slay all monsters and 
magicians, teach them the antidotes for poisons and give 
them the new food, Indian Corn or Maize. Hiawatha 
came as a little child. His father was Mudjekeewis, the 
West- Wind. \\'enonah, his gentle and beautiful mother, 
died when Hiawatha was only a few days old, leaving him 
in the care of his grandmother, Xokomis. Xokomis loved 
him dearly and taught him to be kind to all living things. 
He grew to manhood loving all the birds and animals, and 
calling them his brothers. 



26 



TilK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




WICNONAII, HIAWATHA S MOTni;R. 



26 



TlllC SOXG UF HIAWATHA. 




I)}- the shores of Gitche Gumee, 
By the shining Bio'-Sea-\\^atcr, 
Stood the wigwam of Xokomis. 
Daughter of the Moon. Xokomis. 
Dark behind it rose the forest, 
Rose the black and gloomy ])ine-trees, 
Rose the firs with cones upon them ; 



27 



TIIK SONG OK HIAWATHA. 




28 



Till-; SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

liriglit before it beat the water. 
Beat the clear and sunny water, 
Beat the shining Big-Sea-Water. 

There the wrinkled, old Nokomis 
Nursed the little Hiawatha, 
Rocked him in his linden cradle, 
Bedded soft in moss and rushes. 
Safely bound with reindeer sinews ; 
Stilled his fretful wail by saying, 
"Hush ! the Naked Bear will get thee !' 




Lulled him into slumber, singing, 
"Ewa-yea! my little owlet! 
Who is this, that lights the wigwam ? 
With his great eyes lights the wigwam ? 
Ewa-vea ! mv little owlet !" 



29 



Tlilv SON'G OF HIAWATHA. 




^lany things Nokomis taught him 
Of the stars that shine in heaven; 
Showed him Ishkoodah, the comet, 
Ishkoodah, with fiery tresses ; 
Showed the Death-Dance of the spirits, 
Warriors with their plumes and war-chtbs, 
Flaring far away to northward 
In the frosty nights of Winter ; 
Showed the broad, white road in heaven, 
Pathway of the ghosts, the shadows. 
Running straight across the heavens, 
Crowded with the ghosts, the shadows. 



30 



TIIK SOXG OF HIAWATHA. 

At the door on summer evenings 
Sat the little Hiawatha; 
Heard the whispering of the i)ine-trces, 
Heard the la])ping of the water, 
Sounds of niusic, words of wonder ; 
"]\Iinne-wawa!" said the pine-trees, 
"Mudway-aushka !" said the water. 

Saw tlie fire-ilv. Wah-wah-taysee, 
Flitting through the dusk of evening, 
Whh the twinkle of its candle 
Lighting up the brakes and bushes, 
And he sang the song of children, 
Sang the song Xokomis taught him : 
"Wah-wah-taysee, little fire-fly. 
Little, flitting, white-fire insect. 
Little, dancing, white-fire creature, 
Light me with your little candle, 
Ere upon my bed I lay me. 
Ere in sleep I close my eyelids !" 

Saw the moon rise from the water 
Rippling, rounding from the water. 
Saw the flecks and shadows on it. 
Whispered. "What is that, Xokomis?" 
And the good Xokomis answered : 
"Once a warrior, very angry. 
Seized his grandmother, and threw her 
Up into the sky at midnight ; 
Right against the moon he threw her; 



31 



THE SOXG OF HIAWATHA. 




32 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

'Tis her bocl\- that \ou see there." 
Saw the rainbow in the heaven, 
In the eastern sky, the rainbow. 
Whispered, "What is that, Xokomis?" 
And the good Nokoniis answered : 
" 'Tis the heaven of flowers ycni see tliere ; 
All the wild-flowers of the forest. 
All the lilies of the prairie. 
When on earth they fade and perish, 
Blossom in tliat heaven above us." 
When he heard the owls at midnight. 

Hooting, laughing in the forest, 
"What is that?" he cried in terror; 
"What is that?" he said, "Nokomis?" 
And the good Nokomis answered : 
"That is but the owl and owlet, 
Talking in their native language, 
Talking, scolding at each other." 

Tlicn the little Hiawatha 
Learned of every bird its language. 
Learned their names and all their secrets. 
How they built their nests in Summer, 
Where they hid themselves in Winter, 
Talked with them whene'er he met them, 
Called them "Hiawatha's Chickens." 

Of all beasts he learned the language, 
Learned their names and all their secrets, 
How the beavers built their lodges, 



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33 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




Where the squirrels hid their acorns, 
How the reindeer ran so swiftly, 
Why the rabbit was so timid. 
Talked with them whene'er he met them, 
Called them "Hiawatha's Brothers." 

Then lagoo, the great boaster, 
He the marvellous story-teller, 
He the traveler and the talker. 
He the friend of old Nokomis, 
Made a bow for Hiawatha ; 
From a branch of ash he made it, 
From an oak-bough made the arrows. 
Tipped with flint, and winged with feathers. 
And the cord he made of deer-skin. 



34 



THE SO.N"G OF HIAWATHA. 

Then he said to Hiawatha : 
"Go, my son, into the forest, 
Where the red deer herd together. 
Kill for us a famous roebuck. 
Kill for us a deer with antlers !" 

Forth into the forest straightway 
All alone walked Hiawatha 
Proudly, with his bow and arrows ; 
And the birds sang round him, o'er him, 
"Do not shoot us, Hiawatha !" 
Sang the Opechee, the robin 
Sang the blue-bird, the Owaissa, 
"Do not shoot us, Hiawatha !" 




35 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Up the oak-tree, close beside him, 
Sprang the squirrel, Adjidaumo, 
In and out among the branches, 
Coughed and chattered from the oak-tree, 
Laughed, and said between his laughing, 
"Do not shoot me, Hiawatha !" 

And the rabbit from his pathway 
Leaped aside, and at a distance 
Sat erect upon his haunches, 
Half in fear and half in frolic, 
Saying to the little hunter, 
"Do not shoot me, Hiawatha !" 

But he heeded not, nor heard them, 
For his thoughts were with the red deer ; 




36 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




On their tracks his eyes were fastened, 
Leading downward to the river, 
To the ford across the river, 
And as one in slumber walked he. 

Hidden in the alder-bushes, 
There he waited till the deer came, 
Till he saw two antlers lifted. 
Saw two eyes look from the thicket. 
Saw two nostrils point to windward, 
And a deer came down the pathway. 
Flecked with leafy light and shadow, 
And his heart within him fluttered. 
Trembled like the leaves above him, 
Like the birch-leaf i)alpitated, 



37 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

As the deer came down the pathway, 
Then, upon one knee uprising, 
Hiawatha aimed an arrow ; 
Scarce a twig moved with his motion, 
Scarce a leaf was stirred or rustled. 
But the wary roebuck started, 
Stamped with all his hoofs together, 
Listened with one foot uplifted. 
Leaped as if to meet the arrow ; 
Ah ! the singing, fatal arrow, 
Like a wasp it buzzed and stung him ! 

Dead he lay there in the forest. 
By the ford across the river ; 
Beat his timid heart no longer. 




38 



the; soxg of iiiawatha. 

But the heart of Hiawatha 
Throbbed and shouted and exulted, 
As lie bore the red deer homeward, 
And lagoo and Nokomis 
Hailed his coming with applauses. 

From tlic red deer's hide Nokomis 
Made a cloak for Hiawatha, 
From the red deer's flesh Nokomis 
Made a banquet in his honor. 
All the village came and feasted, 
All the guests praised Hiawatha, 
Called him Strong-Heart, Soan-ge-taha ! 
Called him Loon-Heart, Mahn-go-taysee ! 




39 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




OUT OF CHILDHOOD INTO MANHOOD. 

40 



Tin-: SOXG OF HIAWATHA. 



CHAPTER IV. 




HIAWATHA AXD ^lUDJEKEEWIS. 

Out of childhood into manhood 
Xow had grown my Hiawatha, 
Skilled in all the craft of hunters, 
Learned in all the lore of old men. 
In all youthful sports and pastimes, 
In all manly arts and labors. 

Swift of foot was Hiawatha; 
He could shoot an arrow from him. 
And run forward with such fleetness, 



41 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

That the arrow fell behind him ! 

Strong of arm was Hiawatha ; 

He could shoot ten arrows upward, 

Shoot them with such strength and swiftness, 

That the tenth had left the bow-string 

Ere the first to earth had fallen ! 

He had mittens, Minjekahwun, 
Magic mittens made of deer-skin ; 
When upon his hands he wore them. 
He could smite the rocks asunder. 
He could grind them into powder. 
He had moccasins enchanted, 
Magic moccasins of deer-skin ; 
When he bound them round his ankles, 
When upon his feet he tied them. 
At each stride a mile he measured ! 

Much he questioned old Nokomis 
Of his father Mudjekeewis ; 
Learned from her the fatal secret 
Of the beauty of his mother. 
Of the falsehood of his father ; 
And his heart was hot within him, 
Like a living coal his heart was. 

Then he said to old Nokomis, 
"I will go to Mudjekeewis, 
See how fares it with my father. 
At the doorways of the West-Wind, 
At the portals of the Sunset !" 



42 



THE SOXG OF HIAWATHA. 




From liis lodge went Hiawatha, 
Dressed for travel, armed for hunting; 
Dressed in deer-skin shirt and leggings, 
Richly wrought with quills and wampum ; 
On his head his eagle-feathers. 
Round his waist his belt of wampum, 
In his hand his bow of ash-wood, 
Strung with sinews of the reindeer ; 
In his quiver oaken arrows, 
Tii)ped with jaspar, winged with feathers; 
With his mittens, Minjekahwun, 
With iiis moccasins enchanted. 



43 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




44 



THE SONG 01'' HIAWATHA. 

Warning said the old Nokomis, 
"Go not forth, O Hiawatha ! 
To the kingdom of the West-Wind, 
To the reahns of Mudjekeewis, 
Lest he harm you with his magic. 
Lest he kill you with his cunning !" 

But the fearless Hiawatha 
Heeded not her woman's warning ; 
Forth he strode into the forest, 
At each stride a mile he measured ; 
Lurid seemed the sky above hiiu. 
Lurid seemed the earth beneath him, 
Hot and close the air around him. 
Filled with smoke and fiery vapors, 
As of burning woods and prairies. 
For his heart was hot within him, 
Like a living coal his heart was. 

So he journe3'ed westward, westward. 
Left the fleetest deer behind him. 
Left the antelope and bison ; 
Crossed the rushing Esconaba, 
Crossed the mighty ^Mississippi, 
Passed the Mountains of the Prairie, 
Passed the land of Crows and Foxes, 
Passed the dwellings of the Blackfeet, 
Came unto the Rocky Mountains, 
To the kingdom of the West-Wind, 



45 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Where upon the gusty summits 
Sat the ancient Mudjekeewis, 
Ruler of the winds of heaven. 

Filled with awe was Hiawatha 
y\t the aspect of his father. 
On the air about him wildly 
Tossed and streamed his cloudy tresses, 
Gleamed like drifting snow his tresses, 
Glared like Ishkoodah, the comet, 
Like the star with fiery tresses. 

Filled with joy was Mudjekeewis 
When he looked on Hiawatha. 

"Welcome !" said he, "Hiawatha, 
To the kingdom of the West-Wind! 
Long have I been waiting for you !" 

Many days they talked together, 
Questioned, listened, waited, answered ; 
Much the mighty Mudjekeewis 
Boasted of his ancient prowess. 
Of his perilous adventures. 
His indomitable courage. 
His invulnerable body. 

Patiently sat Hiawatha, 
Listening to his father's boasting ; 
With a smile he sat and listened, 
Uttered neither threat nor menace, 
Neither word nor look betrayed him, 
But his heart was hot within him. 



46 



THE SOXG OF HIAWATHA, 

Like a living coal his heart was. 

Then he said, "O Mudjekeewis. 
Is there nothing that can harm you ? 
Nothing that you are afraid of?" 
And the mighty IMudjekeewis, 
Grand and gracious in his boasting, 
Answered, saying, "There is nothing, 
Nothing but the black rock yonder, 




47 



THK SONG OF HIAWATHA, 

Nothing but the fatal Wawbeek !" 

And he looked at Hiawatha 
With a wise look and benignant, 
With a countenance paternal. 
Looked with pride upon the beauty 
Of his tall and graceful figure, 
Saying, "O my Hiawatha ! 
Is there anything can harm you? 
Anything you are afraid of?" 

But the wary Hiawatha 
Paused awhile, as if uncertain, 
Held his peace, as if resolving. 
And then answered, "There is nothing, 
Nothing but the bulrush yonder, 
Nothing but the great Apukwa !" 

And as Mudjekeewis, rising, 
Stretched his hand to pluck the bulrush, 
Hiawatha cried in terror. 
Cried in well-dissembled terror, 
"Kago! kago! do not touch it!" 
"Ah, kaween!" said Mudjekeewis, 
"No indeed, I will not touch it !" 
Then they talked of other matters ; 
Then of Hiawatha's mother. 
Of the beautiful Wenonah, 
Of her death, as old Nokomis 
Had remembered and related. 

And he cried, "O Mudjekeewis, 



48 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

It was you who killed Wenonali, 

Took her young life and her beauty, 

Broke the Lily of the Prairie, 

You confess it! you confess it!" 

And the mighty Mudjekeewis 

Tossed his gray hairs to the West-Wind, 

Bowed his hoary head in anguish, 

With a silent nod assented. 

Then up started Hiawatha, 
And with threatening look and gesture 
Laid his hand upon the black rock. 
On the fatal Wawbeek laid it, 
With his mittens, ]\Iinjekahwun, 
Rent the jutting crag asunder, 
Smote and crushed it into fragments. 
Hurled them madly at his father, 
The remorseful Mudjekeewis, 
For his heart was hot within him. 
Like a living coal his heart was. 

But the ruler of the West-Wind 
Blew the fragments backward from him, 
With the breathing of his nostrils. 
With the tempest of his ang°r, 
Blew them back at his assailant ; 

Seized the bulrush, the Apukwa, 
Dragged it with its roots and fibres 
From the margin of tlie meadow. 
From its ooze, the giant bulrush ; 



49 



Tilt; SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Long and loud laughed Hiawatha ! 

Then began the deadly conflict. 
Hand to hand among the mountains ; 
From his eyrie screamed the eagle, 
The Keneu, the great War-Eagle ; 
Sat upon the crags around them. 
Wheeling flapped his wings above them. 

Like a tall tree in the tempest 
Bent and lashed the giant bulrush ; 
And in masses huge and heavy 
Crashing fell the fatal Wawbeek ; 
Till the earth shook with the tumult 
And confusion of the battle, 
And the air was full of shoutings. 
And the thunder of the mountains, 
Starting, answered, "Baim-wawa!" 

Back retreated Mudjekeewis, 
Rushing" westward o'er the mountains, 
Stumbling westward down the mountains, 
Three whole days retreated fighting. 
Still pursued by Hiawatha 
To the doorways of the West- Wind, 
To the portals of the Sunset, 
To the earth's remotest border, 
Where into the empty spaces 
Sinks the sun, as a flamingo 
Drops into her nest at nightfall, 
In the melancholy marshes. 



50 



TlIK SOXG OF HIAWATHA. 

"Hold!" at length cried Aludjekeewis, 
"Hold, my son, my Hiawatha! 
'Tis impossible to kill me. 
For you cannot kill the immortal. 
I have put you to this trial. 
But to know and prove your courage ; 
Now receive the prize of valor ! 

"Go back to your home and people, 
Live among them, toil among them, 
Cleanse the earth from all that harms it. 
Clear the fishing-grounds and rivers. 
Slay all monsters and magicians. 
All the giants, the Wendigoes, 
All the serpents, the Kenabeeks, 
As I slew the Mishe-Mokwa. 
Slew the Great Bear of the mountains. 

"And at last when Death draws near you. 
When the awful eyes of Pauguk 
Glare upon you in the darkness, 
I. will share my kingdom with you, 
Ruler shall you be thenceforward 
Of the Northwest-Wind, Keewa\-din, 
Of the home-wind, the Keewaydin." 

Thus was fought that famous battle 
In the dreadful days of Shah-shah. 
In the days long since departed, 
In the kingdom of the West-Wind. 
Still the hunter sees its traces 



51 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




FALLS OF MINNEHAHA. 

52 



Tlir; SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Scattered far o'er hill and valley ; 
Sees the giant bulrush growing 
By the ponds and water-courses, 
Sees the masses of the Wawbeek 
Lying still in every valley. 

Homeward now went Hiawatha ; 
Pleasant was the landscape round him, 
Pleasant was the air above him, 
For the bitterness of anger 
Had departed wholly from him, 
From his brain the thought of vengeance, 
From his heart the burning fever. 

Only once his pace he slackened, 
Only once he paused or halted, 
Paused to purchase heads of arrows 
Of the ancient Arrow-maker, 
In the land of the Dacotahs, 
Where the Falls of Minnehaha 
Flash and gleam among the oak-trees. 
Laugh and leap into the valley. 

There the ancient Arrow-maker 
Made his arrow-heads of sandstone,. 
Arrow-heads of chalcedony. 
Arrow-heads of flint and jasper, 
Smoothed and sharpened at the edges, 
Hard and polished, keen and costly. 

With him dwelt his dark-eyed daughter. 
Wayward as the Minnehaha, 



53 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




MINNEHAHA. 



54 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

With her moods of shade and sunshine, 
E\es that smiled and frowned alternate, 
Feet as rapid as the river. 
Tresses flowing- like the water, 
And as musical a laughter ; 
And he named her from the river, 
From the water-fall he named her, 
Minnehaha, Laughing Water. 

\\'as it then for heads of arrows. 
Arrow-heads of chalcedonx-. 
Arrow-heads of flint and jasper, 
That my Hiawatha halted 
In the land of the Dacotahs? 

Was it not to see the maiden. 
See the face of Laughing Water 
Peeping from behind the curtain. 
Hear the rustling of her garments 
From behind the waving curtain. 
As one sees the Minnehaha 
Gleaming, glancing through the branches. 
As one hears the Laughing \\'ater 
From behind its screen of branches? 
All he told to old Xokomis, 
When he reached the lodge at sunset. 
Was the meeting with his father. 
Was his fight with Mudjekeewis ; 
Xot a word he said of arrows. 
Not a word of Laughinir Water ! 



66 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




56 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

CHAPTER V. 




HIAWATHA'S FASTING. 
You shall hear how Hiawatha 
Prayed and fasted in the forest, 
Not for greater skill in hunting. 
Not for greater craft in fishing. 
Not for triuniplis in the battle, 
And renown among the warriors, 



67 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

But for profit of the people, 
For advantage of the nations. 

First he built a lodge for fasting, 
Built a wigwam in the forest, 
By the shining Big-Sea- Water, 
In the blithe and pleasant Spring-time, 
In the Moon of Leaves he built it. 
And, with dreams and visions many, 
Seven whole days and nights he fasted. 

On the first three days of his fasting, Hiawatha wan- 
dered through the forest, praying the Great Spirit to reveal 
to him in his visions, some easier way for his people to 
live than by hunting and fishing. 

" Master of Life ! " he cried, desponding, 
"Must our lives depend on these things?" 

On the fourth day of his fasting 
In his lodge he lay exhausted ; 
From his couch of leaves and branches 
Gazing with half-open eyelids. 
Full of shadowy dreams and visions, 
On the dizzy, swimming landscape, 
On the gleaming of the water. 
On the splendor of the sunset. 

And he saw a youth approaching, 
Dressed in garments green and yellow, 
Coming through the purple twilight. 
Through the splendor of the sunset ; 



58 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Plumes of green bent o'er his forehead, 
And his hair was soft and golden, 

Standing at the open doorway. 
Long he looked at Hiawatha, 
Looked with pity and compassion 
On his wasted form and features, 
And, in accents like the sighing 
Of the South-Wind in the tree-tops, 
Said he : — "O my Hiawatha ! 
All your prayers are heard in heaven. 
For you pray not like the others ; 
Not for greater skill in hunting. 
Not for greater craft in fishing. 
Not for triumph in the battle. 
Nor renown among the warriors. 
But for profit of the people, 
For advantage of the nations. 

" From the Master of Life descending, 
L the friend of man, Mondamin, 
Come to warn you and instruct you, 
How by struggle and by labor 
You shall gain what you have prayed for. 
Rise up from your bed of branches. 
Rise, O youth, and wrestle with me ! " 

Faint with famine, Hiawatha 
Started from his bed of branches. 
From the twilight of his wigwam 
Forth into the flush of sunset 



69 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Came, and wrestled with Mondamin ; 
At his touch he felt new courage 
Throbbing in his brain and bosom, 
Felt new life and hope and vigor 
Run through every nerve and fibre. 

So they wrestled there together 
In the glory of the sunset, 
And the more they strove and struggled, 
Stronger still grew Hiawatha ; 
Till the darkness fell around them, 
And the heron, the Shuh-shuh-gah, 
From her haunts among the fen-lands, 

Gave a cry of lamentation, 

Gave a scream of pain and famine. 

" 'Tis enough ! " then said Mondamin, 

Smiling upon Hiawatha, 

" But to-morrow when the sun sets, 

I will come again to try you." 
On the morrow and the next day, 

Came Mondamin for the trial. 
For the strife with Hiawatha. 

Thrice they wrestled there together 
In the glory of the sunset, 
Till the darkness fell around them. 
Till the heron, the Shuh-shuh-gah, 
From her haunts among the fen-lands. 
Uttered her loud cry of famine, 
And Mondamin paused to listen. 



60 




THK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

And he cried : — " O Hiawatha ! 
Bravely have you wrestled with me, 
Thrice have wrestled stoutly with me, 
And the Master of Life, who sees us, 
He will give to you the triumph ! " 

Then he smiled, and said : — " To-morrow 
Is the last day of your conflict. 
Is the last day of your fasting. 
You will conquer and o'erconie me ; 
Make a bed for me to lie in. 
Where the rain may fall upon me. 
Where the sun may come and warm me ; 
Strip these garments, green and yellow, 
Strip this nodding plumage from me, 
Lay me in the earth, and make it 
Soft and loose and light above mc. 

"Let no hand disturb my slumber. 
Let no weed nor worm molest me. 
Let not Kahgahgee, the raven, 
Come to haunt me and molest me, 
Only come yourself to watch me, 
Till I wake, and start, and quicken, 
Till I leap into the sunshine." 
And thus saying, he departed. 

On the morrow came Nokomis, 
On the seventh day of his fasting, 
Came with food for Hiawatha 
Came imploring and bewailing. 



61 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA, 

Lest his hunger should o'ercome him, 
Lest his fasting should be fatal. 

But he tasted not, and touched not, 
Only said to her: — "Nokomis, 
Wait until the sun is setting, 
Till the darkness falls around us. 
Till the heron, the Shuh-shuh-gah, 
Crying from the desolate marshes. 
Tells us that the day is ended." 

Homeward weeping went Nokomis, 
Sorrowing for her Hiawatha, 
Fearing lest his strength should fail him, 
Lest his fasting should be fatal. 
He meanwhile sat weary waiting 
For the coming of Mondamin, 
Till the shadows, pointing eastward. 
Lengthened over field and forest, 
And behold ! the young Mondamin, 
Stood and beckoned at the doorway, 
And as one in slumber walking, 
Pale and haggard, but undavmted. 
From the wigwam Hiawatha 
Came and wrestled with Mondamin. 

Round about him spun the landscape. 
Sky and forest reeled together, 
And a hundred suns seemed looking 
At the combat of the wrestlers. 

Suddenly upon the greensward 



62 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

All alone stood Hiawatha, 
Panting with his wild exertion, 
Palpitating with the struggle; 
And before him, breathless, lifeless, 
Lay the youth, with hair dishevelled, 
Plumage torn, and garments tattered. 
Dead he lay there in the sunset. 

And victorious Hiawatha 
Made the grave as he commanded, 
Stripped the garments from Mondamin, 
Stripped his tattered plumage from him. 
Laid him in the earth, and made it 
Soft and loose and light above him ; ' 
And the heron, the Shuh,-shuh-gah, 
From the melancholy moorlands. 
Gave a cry of lamentation. 
Gave a cry of pain and anguish ! 

Homeward then went Hiawatha 
To the lodge of old Nokomis. 
And the seven days of his fasting 
Were accomplished and completed. 
But the place was not forgotten 
Where he wrestled with Mondamin ; 
Nor forgotten nor neglected 
Was the grave where lay Mondamin. 
Sleeping in the rain and sunshine. 
Where his scattered plumes and garments 
Faded in the rain and sunshine. 



68 



THE SOXG OF HIAWATHA. 




Day by day did Hiawatha 
Go to wait and watch beside it ; 
Kept the dark mould soft above it, 
Kept it clean from weeds and insects, 
Drove away, with scoffs and shoutings, 
Kahgahgee, the king of ravens. 

Till at length a small green feather 
From the earth shot slowly upward, 
Then another and another. 
And before the summer ended 
Stood the maize in all its beauty, 
With its shining robes about it, 
And its long, soft yellow tresses; 



64 



the; soxg of iiiawatiia. 




And in rapture Hiawatha 

Cried aloud : — " It is Mondamin ! 

Yes, the friend of man, Alondamin ! " 

Then lie called to old Xokoniis 
And lagoo, the great boaster, 
Showed them where the maize was growing. 
Told them of his wondrous vision, 
Of his wrestling and his triumph, 
Of this new gift to the nations, 
Which should be their food forever. 

And still later, when the Autumn 
Changed the long, green leaves to yellow, 
And the soft and juicy kernels 
Grew like wampum hard and yellow. 



65 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Then the ripened ears he gathered, 
Stripped the withered husks from off them, 
As he once had stripped the wrestler, 
Gave the first Feast of Mondamin, 
And made known unto the people 
This new gift of the Great Spirit. 

This is the beautiful story of the origin of Indian Corn, 
or Maize, as the Indians called it. 




6S 



THE SOXG Ol* HIAWATHA. 



CHAPTER M. 




HIAWATHA'S FRIENDS. 

Two good friends had Hiawatha, 
Singled out from all the others, 
Bound to him in closest union, 
And to whom he gave the right hand 
Of his heart, in joy and sorrow ; 
Chibiabos, the musician, 
And the very strong man. Kwasind. 

Most beloved by Hiawatha 
Was the gentle Chibiabos, 



67 



THE SONC. OF HIAWATHA. 




HIAWATHA AND HIS FRIENDS. 



08 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

He the best of all musicians, 
He the sweetest of all singers. 
Beautiful and childlike was he, 
Brave as man is, soft as woman, 
Pliant as a wand of willow. 
Stately as a deer with antlers. 
When he sang, the village listened; 
All the warriors gathered round him, 
All the women came to hear him ; 
All the hearts of men were softened 
By the pathos of his music; 
For he sang of peace and freedom, 
Sang of beauty, love, anl longing; 
Sang of death, and life undying 
In the Islands of the Blessed, 
In the kingdom of Ponemah. 

Very dear to Hiawatha 
Was the gentle Chibiabos, 
He the best of all musicians, 
He the sweetest of all singers; 
For his gentleness he loved him, 
And the magic of his singing. 

Dear, too, unto Hiawatha 
Was the very strong man, Kwasind, 
He the strongest of all mortals, 
He the mightiest among manv ; 
For his very strength he loved him. 
For his strength allied to goodness. 

69 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




Idle in his youth was Kwasind, 
Very Hstless, dull, and dreamy, 
Never played with other children, 
Never fished and never hunted. 
Not like other children was he ; 
But they saw that much he fasted. 

" Lazy Kwasind !" said his mother, 
" In my work you never help me ! 
In the Summer you are roaming 
Idly in the fields and forests ; 
In the Winter you are cowering 
O'er the firebrands in the wigwam ! 
In the coldest days of Winter 
I must break the ice for fishing; 



70 



THE SOXG OF IIIAVVATIIA. 

With my nets you never help me! 

At the door my nets are hano-ins" 

Dripping, freezing with the water; 

Go and wring them, Yenadizze ! 

Go and dry them in the sunshine ! " 
Slowly, from the ashes, Kwasind 

Rose, but made no angry answer ; 

From the lodge went forth in silence, 

Took the nets, that hung together. 

Dripping, freezing at the doorwa\-, 

Like a wisp of straw he wrung them, 

Like a wisp of straw he broke them. 

Could not wring them without breaking. 

Such the strength was in his fingers. 
" Lazy Kwasind ! " said his father, 

" In the hunt you never help me ; 

Every bow you touch is broken, 

Snapped asunder every arrow ; 

Yet come with me to the forest. 

You shall bring the hunting homeward." 

Down a narrow pass they wandered, 
Where a brooklet led them onward. 
Where the trail of deer and bison 
Marked the soft mud on the margin, 
Till they found all further passage 
Shut against them, barred securely 
By the trunks of trees uprooted. 
Lying lengthwise, lying crosswise, 



71 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

And forbidding further passage. 

" We must go back," said the old man, 
" O'er these logs we cannot clamber ; 
Not a woodchuck could get through them. 
Not a squirrel clamber o'er them ! " 
And straightway his pipe he lighted, 
And sat down to smoke and ponder. 
But before his pipe was finished, 
Lo ! the path was cleared before him ; 
All the trunks had Kwasind lifted. 
To the right hand, to the left hand, 
Shot the pine-trees swift as arrows. 
Hurled the cedars light as lances. 

" Lazy Kwasind ! " said the young men. 
As they sported in the meadow ; 
" Why stand idly looking at us, 
Leaning on the rock behind you? 
Come and wrestle with the others. 
Let us pitch the quoit together ! " 

Lazy Kwasind made no answer. 
To their challenge made no answer. 
Only rose, and, slowly turning. 
Seized the huge rock in his fingers. 
Tore it from its deep foundation. 
Poised it in the air a moment. 
Pitched it sheer into the river. 
Sheer into the swift Pauwating, 
Where it still is seen in Summer. 



72 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Once as down that foaniino^ river, 
Down the rapids of Pauwating, 
Kwasind sailed with his companions, 
In the stream he saw a beaver, 
Saw Ahmeek, the King of Beavers, 
StruggHng with the rushing currents, 
Rising, sinking in the water. 

Without speaking, without i:)ausing. 
Kwasind leaped into the river, 
Plunged beneath the bubbling surface. 
Through the whirlpools chased the beaver. 
Followed him among the islands. 
Stayed so long beneath the water, 
That his terrified companions 
Cried : " Alas ! good-bye to Kwasind ! 
We shall never more see Kwasind ! " 
But he reappeared triumphant, 
And upon his shining shoulders 
Brought the beaver, dead and dripping, 
Brought the King of all the Beavers. 
And these two, as I have told you. 
Were the friends of Hiawatha, 
Chibiabos, the musician. 
And the very strong man, Kwasind. 
Long they lived in peace together. 
Spake with naked hearts together. 
Pondering much and much contriving 
How the tribes of men might prosper. 



73 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




INDIAN WATER BOTTLE. 



74 



the: song of HIAWATHA. 



CHAPTER MI. 




HIAWATHA'S SAILIXG. 
" Give me of your bark, O Birch-Tree ! 
Of your yellow bark. O Birch-Tree ! 
Growing by the rushing river, 
Tall and stately in the valley! 



75 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




I a light canoe will build me, 
Build a swift Cheemaun for sailing, 
That shall float upon the river, 
Like a yellow leaf in Autumn, 
Like a yellow water-lily ! 

" Lay aside your cloak, O Birch-Tree ! 
Lay aside your white-skin wrapper, 



76 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




For the Summer-time is coming. 

And the sun is warm in heaven. 

And you need no white-skin wrapper ! 

Thus aloud cried Hiawatha 

In the solitary forest, 

By the rushing Taquamenaw, 

When the birds were singing gayly, 

In the Moon of Leaves were singing, 

And the sun, from sleep awaking. 

Started up and said, " Behold me ! 

Geezis, the great Sun, behold me !" 

And the tree with all its branches 
Rustled in the breeze of morning, 
Saying, with a sigh of patience. 
" Take my cloak, O Hiawatha ! " 

With his knife the tree he girdled ; 
Just beneath its lowest branches, 
Just above the roots, he cut it, 



77 



THE SONG 01? HIAWATHA. 




Till the sap came oozing outward ; 
Down the trunk, from top to bottom, 
Sheer he cleft the bark asunder, 
With a wooden wedge he raised it, 
Stripped it from the trunk unbroken. 
" Give me of your boughs, O Cedar ! 
Of your strong and pliant branches. 



78 



thf; soxr, of iiiawatija. 

My canoe to make more stead}', 

Make more strong and firm beneath me ! 

Through the summit of the Cedar 

Went a sound, a cry of horror, 

Went a murmur of resistance ; 

But it whispered, bending downward, 

"Take mv boughs. O Hiawatha!" 



. -y^^' 






* nV <3 


g^l^ 


P- 


c' v^iJsD 




i:- 


Br N - ■^ 




{- ■ 


mku. ' *^^ 


^fly^ 










.:„. • •::'^h--;-^- . ,.i>,v .:-i#- •■■-. 


-■•■ -,. ,-<.7^.4>"- ' "' 


.'■■■: ^ ■ ' 



79 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Down he hewed the boughs of cedar, 
Shaped them straightway to a framework, 
Like two bows he formed and shaped them, 
Like two bended' bows together. 

" Give me of your roots, O Tamarack ! 
Of your fibrous roots, O Larch-Tree ! 
]\[y canoe to bind together, 
So to bind the ends together 
That the water may not enter. 
That the river may not wet me ! " 

And the Larch, with all its fibres, 
Shivered in the air of morning. 
Touched his forehead with its tassels, 
Said, with one long sigh of sorrow, 
" Take them all, O Hiawatha ! " 

From the earth he tore the fibres, 
Tore the tough roots of the Larch-Tree, 
Closely sewed the bark together. 
Bound it closely to the framework. 

"Give me of your balm, O Fir-Tree ! 
Of your balsam and your resin, 
So to close the seams together 
That the water may not enter, 
That the river may not wet me ! " 

And the Fir-Tree, tall and sombre, 
Sobbed through all its robes of darkness, 
Rattled like a shore with pebbles, 
Answered wailing, answered weeping, 

80 



Tine SOXG OF JIIAWATIIA. 




" Take my balm, O Hiawatha ! " 

And he took the tears of balsam, 
Took the resin of the Fir-Tree, 
Smeared therewith eaeh seam and fissure, 
Made each crevice safe from water. 



81 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

" Give me of your quills, O Hedgehog ! 
All your quills, O Kagh, the Hedgehog! 
I will make a necklace of them. 
Make a girdle for my beauty, 
And two stars to deck her bosom ! " 

From a hollow tree the Hedgehog 
With his sleepy eyes looked at him, 
Shot his shining quills, like arrows, 
Saying, with a drowsy murmur. 
Through the tangle of his whiskers, 




" Take my quills, O Hiawatha ! " 

From the ground the quills he gathered, 
All the little shining arrows, 
Stained them red and blue and yellow, 
With the juice of roots and berries ; 
Into his canoe he wrought them. 
Round its waist a shining girdle. 
Round its bows a gleaming necklace. 
On its breast two stars resplendent. 



82 



THE SON'G OF HIAWATHA. 




^. 



m?^ 



g'H' '^•^ 



n.. 



^0^2 




Thus the Birch Canoe was buildcd 
In the valley, by the river, 
In the bosom of the forest ; 
And the forest's hfe was in it, 
All its mystery and magic. 
All the lightness of the birch-tree, 
All the toughness of the cedar. 
All the larch's supple sinews ; 
And it floated on the river 
Like a yellow leaf in Autumn, 
Like a yellow water-lily. 

Paddles none had Hiawatha. 
Paddles none he had or needed. 



83 



THK SOXG OF HIAWATHA. 

For his thoughts as paddles served him, 
And his wishes served to guide him ; 
Swift or slow at will he glided, 
Veered to right or left at pleasure. 

Then he called aloud to Kwasind, 
To his friend, the strong man, Kwasind, 
Saying : " Help me clear this river 
Of its sunken logs and sand-bars." 

Straight into the river Kwasind 
Plunged as if he were an otter. 
Dived as if he were a beaver, 
Stood up to his waist in water, 
To his arm-pits in the river, 
Swam and shouted in the river. 




84 



TlIK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Tugged at sunken logs and branches ; 
With his hands he scooped the sand-bars, 
With his feet the ooze and tangle. 

Up and down the river went they, 
In and out among its islands, 
Cleared its bed of root and sand-bar, 
Dragged the dead trees from its channel. 
Made its passage safe and certain, 
Made a pathwa}- for the people. 
From its springs among the mountains. 
To the waters of Pauwating, 
To the bay of Taquamenaw. 




86 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




86 



TIIE SONC; OF HIAWATHA. 



CHAPTER Mil. 




HIAWATHA'S FISHING. 

Forth upon the Gitche Gumee, 
On the shining Big-Sea-Water, 
With his fishing-line of cedar, 
Of the twisted bark of cedar, 
Forth to catch the sturgeon Xalima, 
Mishe-Xahma, King of Fishes, 
In his birch canoe exuUing 
All alone went Hiawatha. 

Through, the clear, transparent water 
I le could see the fishes swimming 
Far down in the depths below him ; 



87 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




See the yellow perch, the Sahwa, 
Like a sunbeam in the water, 
See the Shawgashee, the craw-fish, 
Like a spider on the bottom, 
On the white and sandy bottom. 

At the stern sat Hiawatha, 
With his fishing-line of cedar ; 
In his plumes the breeze of morning 
Played as in the hemlock branches ; 
On the bows, with tail erected, 
Sat the squirrel, Adjidaumo; 
In his fur the breeze of morning 
Played as in the prairie grasses. 

On the white sand of the bottom 
Lay the monster Mishe-Nahma, 
Lay the sturgeon, King of Fishes ; 
Through his gills he breathed the water, 
With his fins he fanned and winnowed, 
With his tail he swept the sand-floor, 
As above him Hiawatha 
In his birch canoe came sailing. 
With his fishing-line of cedar. 



88 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

" Take my bait ! " cried Hiawatha, 
Down into the depths beneath him, 

" Take my bait, O Sturgeon, Nahma ! 
Come up from below the water. 
Let us see which is the stronger ! " 
And he dropped his Hne of cedar 
Through the clear, transparent water, 
Waited vainly for an answer, 
Long sat waiting for an answer, 
And repeating loud and louder, 
" Take my bait, O King of Fishes ! " 

Quiet lay the sturgeon, Xahma, 
Fanning slowly in the water, 
Looking up at Hiawatha, 
Listening to his call and clamor. 
His unnecessary tumult. 
Till he wearied of the shouting; 
And he said to the Kcnozha, 




To the pike, the Maskenozha, 

" Take the bait of this rude fellow, 

Break the line of Hiawatha ! " 

In his fingers Hiawatha 
Felt the loose line jerk and tighten; 



89 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

As he drew it in, it tugged so 
That the birch canoe stood endwise, 
Like a birch log in the water, 
With the squirrel, Adjidaumo, 
Perched and frisking on the summit. 

Full of scorn was Hiawatha 
When he saw the fish rise upward, 
Saw the pike, the Maskenozha, 
Coming nearer, nearer to him. 
And he shouted through the water: 
" Esa ! esa ! Shame upon you ! 
You are but the pike, Kenozha 
You are not the fish I wanted, 
You are not the King of Fishes ! " 

Reeling downward to the bottom 
Sank the pike in great confusion, 
And the mighty sturgeon, Nahma, 




Said to Ugudwash, the sun-fish : 

" Take the bait of this great boaster, 

Break the line of Hiawatha ! " 



90 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Slowly upward, wavering, gleaming, 
Rose the Ugudwash, the sun-fish, 
Seized the line of Hiawatha, 
Swung with all his weight upon it, 
Made a whirlpool in the water. 
Whirled the birch canoe in circles. 
Round and round in gurgling eddies, 
Till the circles in the water 
Reached the far-off sandy beaches, 
Till the water-flags and rushes 
Xodded on the distant margins. 

But when Hiawatha saw him 
Slowly rising tlirough the water, 
Lifting his great disc of whiteness, 
Loud he shouted in derision : 
" Esa ! esa ! Shame upon you ! 
You are Ugudwash, the sun-fish, 
You are not the fish I wanted, 
You are not the King of Fishes ! " 

Wavering downward, white and ghostly 
Sank the Ugudwash, the sun-fish. 
And again the sturgeon, Nahma, 
Heard the shout of Hiawatha, 
Heard his challenge of defiance. 
The unnecessary tumult. 
Ringing far across the water. 

From the white sand of the bottom 
Up he rose with angry gesture, 

91 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Quivering in each nerve and fibre, 
Clashing all his plates of armor, 
Gleaming bright with all his war-paint; 
In his wrath he darted upward, 
Flashing leaped into the sunshine, 
Opened his great jaws, and swallowed 
Both canoe and Hiawatha. 

Down into that darksome cavern 
Plunged the headlong Hiawatha, 
As a log on some black river 
Shoots and plunges down the rapids. 
Found himself in utter darkness, 
Groped about in helpless wonder, 




92 



THIv SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Till he felt a great heart beating, 
Throbbing in that utter darkness. 

And he smote it in his anger, 
With his fist, the heart of Xahma, 
Felt the mighty King of Fishes 
Shudder through each nerve and fibre, 
Heard the water gurgle round him 
As he leaped and staggered through it, 
Sick at heart, and faint and weary. 

Crosswise then did Hiawatha 
Drag his birch canoe for safety, 

Lest from out the jaws of Xahma, 
In the turmoil and confusion, 
Forth he might be hurled and ])erish. 
And the squirrel, Adjidaumo, 
Frisked and chattered very gayly, 
Toiled and tugged with Hiawatha 




Till the labor was completed. 

Then said Hiawatha to him : 
" O my little friend, the squirrel. 
Bravely have you toiled to help me ; 
Take the thanks of Hiawatha, 
And the name which now he gives you; 
For hereafter and forever 
Boys shall call you Adjidaumo, 
Tail-in-air the boys shall call you ! " 

And again the sturgeon, Xahiua, 
Gasped and quivered in the water, 



93 



the; song of HIAWATHA. 

Then was still, and drifted landward 
Till he grated on the pebbles, 
Till the listening Hiawatha 
Heard him grate upon the margin. 
Felt him strand upon the pebbles, 
Knew that Nahma, King of Fishes, 
Lay there dead upon the margin. 

Then he heard a clang and flapping, 
As of many wings assembling. 
Heard a screaming and confusion. 
As of birds of prey contending. 
Saw a gleam of light above him, 
Shining through the ribs of Nahma, 




Saw the glittering eyes of sea-gulls. 
Of Kayoshk, the sea-gulls, peering, 
Gazing at him through the opening. 
Heard them saying to each other, 
" 'Tis our brother. Hiawatha ! " 



94 



TIIIC SONG Ol* HIAWATHA. 

And he shouted from below them, 
Cried exulting from the caverns : 
" O ye sea-gulls ! O my brothers ! 
I have slain the sturgeon, Xahma ; 
Make the rifts a little larger. 
With your claws the openings widen, 
Set me free from this dark prison." 

And the wild and clamorous sea-gulls 
Toiled with beak and claws together, 
Made the rifts and openings wider 
In the mighty ribs of Xahma. 
And from peril and from prison, 
From the body of the sturgeon, 
From the peril of the water, 
\\'as released my Hiaw^atha. 

He was standing near his wigwam. 
On the margin of the water, 
And he called to old Xokomis, 
Called and beckoned to Xokomis, 
Pointed to the sturgeon, Xahma, 
Lying lifeless on the pebbles. 
With the sea-gulls feeding on him. 

" I have slain the Mishe-Xahma, 
Slain the King of Fishes ! " said he ; 
" Look ! the sea-gulls feed upon him. 
Yes, my friends Kayoshk, the sea-gulls 
Drive them not away, Nokomis, 
Thev have saved me from great peril 

95 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

In the body of the sturgeon. 

" Wait until their meal is ended. 
Till their craws are full with feasting, 
Till they homeward fly, at sunset, 
To their nests among the marshes ; 
Then bring all your pots and kettles, 
And make oil for us in Winter." 

And she waited till the sun set, 
Till Kayoshk, the sated sea-gulls. 
Winged their way to far-off islands, 
To their nests among the rushes. 

To his sleep went Hiawatha, 
And Nokomis to her labor. 

Three whole days and nights alternate 
Old Nokomis and the sea-gulls 
Stripped the oily flesh of Nahma, 
Till the waves washed through the rib-bones, 
Till the sea-gulls came no longer. 
And upon the sands lay nothing 
But the skeleton of Nahma. 




96 



TIIIv SONG OF HIAWATHA. 



CHAPTER IX. 




GITCHE GUMEE, THE BIG-SEA-WATER. 



IA\\'ATHA AXD THE PEARL-FEATHER 
Ox llic shores of Gitche Gumee, 
Of the shining Big- Sea-Water 
Stood Nokomis, the old woman, 
Pointing with her finger westward. 
O'er the water pointing westward, 
To the puri)le clouds of sunset. 



97 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

And Nokomis, the old woman, 
Pointing with her finger westward. 
Spake these words to Hiawatha : 
" Yonder dwells the great Pearl-Feather, 
IMegissogwon, the Magician, 
Alanito of Wealth and Wampnm, 
Guarded by his fiery serpents, 
Guarded by the black pitch-water. 
You can see his fiery serpents. 
The Kenabeek, the great serpents, 
Coiling, playing in the water ; 
You can see the black pitch-water 
Stretching far away beyond them, 
To the purple clouds of sunset ! 

" He it was who slew my father. 
He, the mightiest of Magicians, 
Sends the fever from the marshes. 
Sends disease and death among us ! 

"Take your bow, O Hiawatha, 
Take your arrows, jasper-headed, 
Take your war-club, Puggawaugun, 




98 



Till': SOXG Ol' HIAWATHA. 

And }our mittens, Minjekahw un. 
And }onr birch-canoe for sailing'. 
And the oil of Mishe-Xahma. 
So to smear its sides, that swiftly 
You may pass the black pitch-water ; 
Slay this merciless magician, 
Save the people from the fever 
That he breathes across the fen-lands, 
And avenge my father's murder!" 

Straightway then my Hiawatha 
Armed himself with all his war-gear. 
Launched his birch-canoe for sailing ; 
With his palm its sides he patted. 
Said with glee: " Chccmaun, my darling, 
O my Birch-Canoe ! leap forward. 
Where you see the fiery serpents. 
Where you see the black pitch-water ! " 

Forward leaped Cheemaun exulting, 
And the noble Hiawatha 
Sang his war-song wild and woeful, 
And above him the war-eagle, 




99 



TIIK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Master of all fowls with feathers, 
Screamed and hurtled through the heaven. 

Soon he reached the fiery serpents, 
The Kenabeek, the great serpents, 
Lying huge upon the water, 
Sparkling, rippling in the water, 
Lying coiled across the passage, 
With their blazing crests uplifted. 
Breathing fiery fogs and vapors, 
So that none could pass beyond them. 

But the fearless Hiawatha 
Cried aloud, and spake in this wise : 
" Let me pass my way, Kenabeek, 
Let me go upon my journey ! " 
And they answered, hissing fiercely. 
With their fiery breath made answer : 
" Back, go back ! O Shaugodaya ! 
Back to old Nokomis, Faint-heart ! " 

Then the angry Hiawatha 
Raised his mighty bow of ash-tree. 
Seized his arrows, jasper-headed. 
Shot them fast among the serpents ; 
Every twanging of the bow-string 
Was a war-cry and a death-cry. 
Every whizzing of an arrow 
Was a death-song of Kenabeek. 

Weltering in the bloody water, 
Dead lay all the fiery serpents, 

100 



tiil; soxg of iiiawatha. 

And among them Iliawatlia 
Harmless sailed, and cried exulting: 
"Onward, O Cheemaun, mv darline! 
Onward to the black pitch-water ! " 

Then he took the oil of Nahma, 
And the bows and sides anointed. 

Smeared them well with oil, that swiftly 
He might pass the black pitch-water. 

All night long he sailed upon it. 
Sailed upon that sluggish water. 
Till the level moon' stared at him. 
In his face stared pale and haggard, 
Till the sun was hot behind him, 
Till it burned upon his shoulders, 
And before him on the upland 
He could see the Shining Wigwam 
Of the Alanito of Wampum, 
Of the mightiest of Magicians. 

Then once more Cheemaun he patted, 
To his birch-canoe said, " Onward ! " 
And it stirred in all its fibres. 
And with one great bound of triumph 
Leaped across the water-lilies. 
Leaped through tangled flags and rushes, 
And upon the beach beyond them 
Dry-shod landed Hiawatha. 

Straight he took his bow of ash-tree, 
One end on the sand he rested, 




101 



THK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




With his knee he pressed the middle, 

Stretched the faithful bow-string tighter, 

Took an arrow, jasper-headed, 

Shot it at the Shining Wigwam, 

Sent it singing as a herald. 

As a bearer of his message. 

Of his challenge loud and lofty: 

" Come forth from your lodge, Pearl-Feather ! 

Hiawatha waits your coming ! " 

Straightway from the Shining Wigwam 



102 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Came the mighty Megissogwon, 
Tall of stature, broad of shoulder, 
Dark and terrible in aspect, 
Clad from head to foot in wampum. 
Armed with all his warlike weapons, 
Painted like the sky of morning. 

" Well I know you, Hiawatha ! " 
Cried he in a voice of thunder. 
In a tone of loud derision. 
"Hasten back, O Shaugodaya ! 
Hasten back among the women, 
Back to old Nokomis, Faint-heart ! 
I will slay you as you stand there. 
As of old I slew her father ! " 

But my Hiawatha answered. 
Nothing daunted, fearing nothing: 
" Big words do not smite like war-clubs, 
Boastful breath is not a bow-string, 
Taunts are not so sharp as arrows. 
Deeds are better things than words are. 
Actions mightier than boastings ! " 

Then began the greatest battle 
That the sun had ever looked on. 
That the war-birds ever witnessed. 
All a summer's day it lasted, 
From the simrise to the sunset ; 
For the shafts of Hiawatha 
Harmless hit the shirt of wampum. 
Harmless fell the blows he dealt it 
With his mittens. ]\Iinjekahwun. 

Till at sunset Hiawatha, 

103 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




104 



TIllC SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




Leaning on his bow of ash-trce. 

Wounded, wear\-, and desponding, 

With liis mighty war-ckib broken, 

W'itii liis mittens torn and tattered, 

And three useless arrows only, 

Paused to rest beneath a ])ine-tree. 
Suddenly from the boughs above him 

Sang the Mama, the woodi)ecker : 
" Aim your arrows, Hiawatha, 
At the head of Megissogwon, 
I Strike the tuft of hair upon it, 

At their roots the long black tresses ; 
' There alone can he be wounded ! " 
j W'inged with feathers, tipped with jasper. 
Swift flew Hiawatha's arrow. 
Just as jMegissogwon, stooping. 
Raised a heavy stone to throw it. 
Full upon the crown it struck him. 
At the roots of his long tresses, 

And he reeled and staggered forward. 

Plunging like a wounded bison. 

Yes, like Pezhekee, the bison. 

When the snow is on the prairie. 
Swifter flew the second arrow, 

In the pathway of the other. 

Piercing deeper than the other, 

Wounding sorer than the other ; 



105 



THE SOiNG Ul'" lilAWATHA. 

But the third and latest arrow 
Swiftest flew, and wounded sorest, 
At the feet of Hiawatha 
Lifeless lay the great Pearl-Feather, 
Lay the mightiest of Magicians. 

Then the grateful Hiawatha 
Called the Mama, the woodpecker, 
From his perch among the branches 
Of the melancholy pine-tree. 
And, in honor of his service. 
Stained with blood the tuft of feathers 
On the little head of Mama ; 
Even to this day he wears it, 
Wears the tuft of crimson feathers. 
As a symbol of his service. 

Then he stripped the shirt of wampum 
From the back of Megissogwon, 
As a trophy of the battle. 




106 



Tllli SONG OK HIAWATHA. 

As a signal of liis conquest. 

From the wigwam Hiawatha 
Bore the wealth of Megissogwon, 
All his wealth of skins and waminim, 
Furs of bison and of beaver. 
Furs of sable and of ermine, 




Wampum belts and strings and jiouches, 
Quivers wrought with beads of wampum. 
Filled with arrows, silver-headed. 

Homeward then he sailed exulting. 
With a shout and song of triumph. 

On the shore stood old Nokomis, 
On the shore stood Chibiabos, 
And the very strong man, Kwasind, 
Waiting for the hero's coming. 
Listening to his song of triumph. 
And the people of the village 
Welcomed him with .songs and dances, 

107 



The song of HIAWATHA. 

Made a joyous feast, and shouted: 
" Honor be to Hiawatha ! '" 

Ever dear to Hiawatha 
Was the memory of Mama ! 
And in token of his friendship, 
As a mark of his remembrance, 
lie adorned and decked his pipe-stem 
With the crimson tuft of feathers. 
With the blood-red crest of Mama. 
But the wealth of Megissogwon, 
All the trophies of the battle. 
He divided with his people, 
Shared it equally among them. 




108 



TIIK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 



CHAPTER X. 







HIAWATHA'S WOOIXG. 

" As unto the bow the cord is, 

So unto the irian is woman, 

Though she bends him, she obeys him. 

Though she draws him, yet she follows, 

Useless each without the other!" 



109 



TPIE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




MINNEHAHA, LAUGHING WATER, 

110 



TilK SOXG Ol" HIAWATHA. 

Thus the youthful IJiawatha 
Said within himself and pondcretl. 
Much perplexed by various feelings, 
Listless, longing, hoping, fearing, 
Dreaming still of Minnehaha, 
Of the lovely Laughing Water, 
In the land of the Dacotahs. 

" Wed a maiden of \our people," 
Warning said the old Xokomis ; 
" Go not eastward, go not westward. 
For a stranger, whom we know nc;t ! 
Like a fire upon the hearth-stone 
Is a neighbor's homely daughter. 
Like the starlight or the moonlight 
Is the handsomest of strangers ! " 

Thus dissuading spake Xokomis, 
And my Hiawatha answered 
Only this : " Dear old Nokomis, 
Very pleasant is the firelight. 
But I like the starlight better. 
Better do I like the moonlight ! " 

Gravely then said old Xokomis : 
" Bring not here an idle maiden. 
Bring not here a useless woman, 
Hands unskilful, feet unwilling; 
Bring a wife with nimble fingers. 
Heart and hand that move together. 
Feet that run on willing errands! " 

111 



THE SOxXG OF HIAWATHA. 

Smiling answered Hiawatha : 
" In the land of the Dacotahs 
Lives the Arrow-maker's daughter, 
Minnehaha, Laughing Water, 
Handsomest of all the women. 
I will bring her to your wigwam. 
She shall run upon your errands, 
Be your starlight, moonlight, firelight, 
Be the sunlight of my people ! " 

Still dissuading said Nokomis : 
" Bring not to my lodge a stranger 
From the land of the Dacotahs ! 
A'ery fierce are the Dacotahs, 
Often is there war between us, 
There are feuds yet un forgotten, 
Wounds that ache and still may open ! " 

Laughing answered Hiawatha : 
" For that reason, if no other. 
Would I wed the fair Dacotah, 
That our tribes might be united, 
That old feuds might be forgotten. 
And old wounds be healed forever ! " 

Thus departed Hiawatha 
To the land of the Dacotahs, 
To the land of handsome women ; 
Striding over moor and meadow, 
Through interminable forests, 
Through uninterrupted silence. 

112 



THK SONG OK HIAWATHA. 

With his moccasins of magic, 
At each stride a mile he measured ; 
Yet the way seemed long before him, 
And his heart outrun his footsteps ; 
And he journeyed without resting. 
Till he heard the cataract's thunder, 
Heard the Falls of Minnehaha 
Calling to him through the silence. 
"Pleasant is the sound! " he murmured, 
" Pleasant is the voice that calls me ! " 

On the outskirts of the forest. 
'Twixt the shadow and the sunshine, 
Herds of fallow deer were feeding. 
But they saw not Hiawatha ; 
To his bow he whispered, " Fail not I " 
To his arrow whispered, " Swerve not ! " 
Sent it singing on its errand. 
To the red heart of the roebuck ; 
Threw the deer across his shoulder. 
And sped forward without ])ausing. 

At the doorway of his wigwam 
Sat the ancient Arrow-maker, 
In the land of the Dacotahs. 
Making arrow-heads of jasper. 
Arrow-heads of chalcedony. 
At his side, in all her beauty. 
Sat the lovely Minnehaha. 
Sat his daughter, Laughing Water, 

113 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 







>o .?^' 



\ ?''•►■ 



■t?;^. 



THREW THE DEER ACROSS HIS SHOULDER. 

114 



Tlir; SONf, OF HIAWATHA. 

Plaiting mats of flags and rushes ; 

Of the past the old man's thoughts were, 

And the maiden's of the future. 

He was thinking, as he sat there. 
Of the days when with such arrows 
He had struck the deer and bison. 
On the Muskoday, the meadow ; 
Shot the wild goose, flying southward, 
On the wing, the clamorous Wawa ; 
Thinking of the great war-parties. 
How they came to buy his arrows. 

She was thinking of a hunter, 
From another tribe and country, , 

Young and tall and very handsome. 
Who one morning, in the Spring-time, 
Came to buy her father's arrows. 
Sat and rested in the wigwam, 
Lingered long about the doorway. 
Looking back as he departed. 
She had heard her father praise him, 
Praise his courage and his wisdom ; 
Would he come again for arrows 
To the Falls of Minnehaha? 
On the mat her hands lay idle, 
.\nd her eyes were very dreamy. 

Through their thoughts they heard a footstep, 
Heard a rustling in the branches. 
And with glowing cheek and forehead. 



115 



THK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




With the deer upon his shoulders, 
Suddenly from out the woodlands 
Hiawatha stood before them. 

Straight the ancient Arrow-maker 
Looked up gravely from his labor, 
Laid aside the unfinished arrow, 
Bade him enter at the doorway, 
Saying, as he rose to meet him : 
" Hiawatha, you are welcome ! " 

At the feet of Laughing \\'ater 



116 



THE SONC. OI^ HIAWATHA. 




Hiawatha laid his 1)iirclcn. 
Tlirew the red deer from liis sliouldcrs ; 
And the maiden looked up at him. 
Said with gentle look and accent : 
"You are welcome, Hiawatha! " 

\^ery spacious was the wigwam, 
Made of deer-skin dressed and whitened, 
With the Gods of the Dacotahs 
I )rawn and painted on its curtains. 
And so tall the doorway, hardly 
Hiawatha stooped to enter, 



in 



The song of HIAWATHA. 

Hardly touched his eagle- feathers 
As he entered at the doorway. 

Then uprose the Laughing Water, 
From the ground fair Minnehaha, 
Laid aside her mat unfinished, 
Brought forth food and set before them, 
Water brought them from the brooklet. 
Gave them food in earthen vessels, 
Gave them drink in bowls of bass-wood. 




118 



Tilt; sox(; (Ji' HIAWATHA. 

Listened while the i^uest was speaking, 
Listened while her father answered, 
But not once her lips she opened, 
Not a single word she uttered. 

Yes, as in a dream she listened 
To the words of Hiawatha, 
As he talked of old Xokoniis. 
Who had nursed him in his childhood, 
As he told of his companions, 
Chihiabos, the musician. 
.\ntl the very strong man, Kwasind, 
And of happiness and plenty 
In the land of the Ojibways. 
In the pleasant land and peaceful. 

" After many years of warfare, 
IVIany years of strife and bloodshed, 
There is peace between the Ojibways 
And the tribe of the Dacotahs." 
Thus continued Hiawatha, 
And then added, speaking slowly : 
"That this peace ma\- last forever. 
And our hands be clasped more closely, 
And our hearts be more united. 
Give me as my wife this maiden, 
Minnehaha, Laughing Water. 
Loveliest of Dacotah women ! " 

And the ancient Arrow-maker 
Paused a moment ere he answered, 

119 



THK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




THE ANCIENT ARROW-MAKER. 

Smoked a little wliile in silence, 
Looked at Hiawatha proudly, 
Fondly looked at Laughing \\'ater, 
And made answer very gravely : 
"Yes, if Minnehaha wishes; 
Let your heart speak, Minnehaha ! " 
And the lovely Laughing Water 
Seemed more lovely, as she stood there, 
Neither willing nor reluctant, 
As she went to Hiawatha, 



120 



TIIK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Softly took the scat beside him, 
While she said, and blushed to say it, 
" I will follow you, my husband ! " 

This was Hiawatha's wooing! 
Thus it was he won the daughter 
Of the ancient Arrow-maker, 
In the land of the Dacotahs ! 

From the wigwam he departed, 
Leading with him Laughing Water ; 




121 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




BROUGHT THR SUNSHINE OF HIS 1'EOFI.l'; 



122 



Till-: SUNG OK III.WVAIIIA. 

Hand in hand they went together, 
Through the woodland and the meadow, 
Left the old man standing lonely 
At the doorway of his wigwam, 
Heard the Falls of Minnehaha 
Calling to them from the distance, 
Crying to them from afar ofi: 
" Fare thee well, O Minnehaha! " 

Pleasant was the journey homeward, 
Through interminable forests. 
Over meadow, over mountain, 
Over river, hill, and hollow. 

Over wide and rushing rivers 
In his arms he bore the maiden ; 
Light he thought her as a feather. 
As the plume upon his head-gear ; 
Cleared the tangled pathway for her, 
Bent aside the swaying branches. 
IMade at night a lodge of branches. 
And a bed with boughs of hemlock, 
And a fire before the doorway 
With the dry cones of the pine-tree. 

Pleasant was the journey homeward! 
All the birds sang loud and sweetlw 

Thus it was they journeyed homeward ; 
Thus it was that Hiawatha, 
To the lodge of old Xokomis 
Brought the moonlight, starlight, firelight, 



123 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Brought the sunshine of his people, 
Minnehaha, Laughing Water, 
Handsomest of all the women 
In the land of the Dacotahs. 
In the land of handsome women. 




124 



TIIK SOXG OI* HIAWATHA. 

CHAPTER XI. 




HIAWATHA'S WEDDING-FEAST. 
Yon shall hear how Pau-Puk-Keewis, 
How the handsome Ycnadizze 
Danced at Hiawatha's wedding- ; 
How the gentle Chibiabos, 
He the sweetest of mnsicians. 
Sang his songs of love and longing; 
How lagoo, the great boaster, 
He the marvellous story-teller, 
Told his tales of strange adventure. 
That the feast might be more joyous, 

126 



THK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

That the time might pass more gayly, 
And the guests be more contented. 

Sumptuous was the feast Nokomis 
Made at Hiawatha's wedding; 
All the bowls were made of bass-wood, 
White and polished very smoothly, 
All the spoons of horn of bison, 
Black and polished very smoothly. 

She had sent through all the village 
Messengers with wands of willow, 
As a sign of invitation, 
As a token of the feasting ; 
And the wedding guests assembled, 
Clad in all their richest raiment. 
Robes of fur and belts of wampum. 
Splendid with their paint and plumagC; 
Beautiful with beads and tassels. 

First they ate the sturgeon, Nahma, 
And the pike, the Maskenozha, 
Caught and cooked by old Nokomis ; 
Then on pemican they feasted, 
Pemican and buffalo marrow. 
Haunch of deer and hump of bison, 
Yellow cakes of the Mondamin. 
And the wild rice of the river. 

But the gracious Hiawatha, 
And the lovely Laughing Water. 
And the careful old Nokomis, 

126 



TriK SONC OF HIAWATHA. 

Tasted not the food before tliem, 

Only waited on the others, 

Only served their guests in silence. 

.\nd when all the guests had finished, 
Old Xokomis, brisk and busv, 
From an ample pouch of otter, 
Filled the red stone pipes for smoking 
With tobacco from the South-land. 
Mixed with bark of the red willow. 
And with herbs and leaves of fragrance. 

Then she said : "O Pau-Puk-Keewis, 
Dance for us your merry dances. 
Dance the Beggar's Dance to please us, 
That the feast may be more joyous, 
That the time may pass more gavlv. 
And our guests be more contented ! " 

Then the handsome Pau-Puk-Kecwis. 
He the idle Yenadizze, 
lie the merry mischief-maker. 
Whom the people called the Storm-Fool. 
Rose among the guests as.sembled. 

Though the warriors called him Faint-IIeart, 
Called him coward, Shaugodava, 
Idler, gambler, Yenadizze, 
Little heeded he their jesting. 
Little cared he for their insults. 
For the women and the maidens 
Loved the handsome T^'lu-l^lk-T\eewis. 



127 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




He was dressed in shirt of doe-skin, 
White and soft, and fringed with ermine, 
All inwronght with beads of wampnni ; 
lie was dressed in deer-skin leggings. 
Fringed with hedgehog qnills and ermine, 
And in moccasins of buckskin, 
Thick with quills and beads embroidered. 
On his head were plumes of swan's down, 
On his heels were tails of foxes, 
In one hand a fan of feathers, 
And a pipe was in the other. 



128 



the: SOXG of HIAWATHA. 





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m- 


>-^ -^^ 


fc ^-. 1 


^^# 


■,'4.AlM 


IT* 


■r^' 


wKmWm 




'"ft. 


' "^x^^^m 






'■' ' Hjh^Mk 






t<'-,WW'. 


' v\»' 


^ <• 











Barred with streaks of red and yellow, 
Streaks of blue and l)riy;ht vermilion, 
Shone the face of Pau-Puk-Keewis. 
From his forehead fell his tresses, 
Smooth, and parted like a woman's. 
Shining 1)ri_y'ht with (m1. and plaited, 
Plung with braids of scented grasses, 
As among the guests assembled, 
To the sound of flutes and singing, 
To the sound of drums and voices. 
Rose the handsome Pau-Puk-Keewis, 



121) 



Tlllv SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

And began his mystic dances. 

Thus the merry Pati-Puk-Keewis 
Danced his Beggar's Dance to please them, 
And, returning, sat down laughing 
There among the guests assembled, 
Sat and fanned himself serenely 
With his fan of turkey-feathers. 

Then they said to Chibiabos, 
To the friend of Hiawatha, 
To the sweetest of all singers, 
To the best of all musicians : — 
" Sing to us, O Chibiabos ! 
Songs of love and songs of longing, 
That the feast may be more joyous, 
That the time may pass more gayly. 
And our guests be more contented ! " 

And the gentle Chibiabos 
Sang in accents sweet and tender, 
" Onaway ! Awake, beloved ! " 
And lagoo, the great boaster. 
He the marvellous story-teller. 
He the friend of old Nokomis, 
Jealous of the sweet musician. 
Jealous of the applause they gave him, 
Saw in all the eyes around him, 
Saw in all their looks and gestures. 
That the wedding guests assembled 
Longed to hear his pleasant stories. 
His immeasurable falsehoods. 

130 



THE SOXG or HIAWATHA. 




\^ery boastful was lagoo ; 
Never heard lie an adventure 
But himself had met a greater; 
Never any deed of daring 
But himself had done a bolder; 
Never any marvellous story 
But himself could tell a stranger. 

Would you listen to his boasting. 
Would you only give him credence, 
No one ever shot an arrow 
TIalf so far and high as he luid ; 
h<ver caught so manv fishes, 



131 



THE SONG OP HIAWATHA. 

Ever killed so many reindeer. 
Ever trapped so many beaver ! 

None could run so fast as he could. 
None could dive so deep as he could. 
None could swim so far as he could ; 
None had made so many journeys, 
None had seen so many wonders, 
As this wonderful lagoo, 
As this marvellous story-teller ! 

Thus his name became a by-word 
And a jest among the people; 
And when'er a boastful hunter 
Praised his own address too highly. 
Or a warrior, home returning, 
Talked too much of his achievements. 
All his hearers cried: "lagoo! 
Here's lagoo come among us ! " 

He it was who carved the cradle 
Of the little Hiawatha, 
Carved its framework out of linden, 
Bound it strong with reindeer sinews ; 
He it was who taught him later 
How to make his bows and arrows, 
How to make the bows of ash-tree, 
And the arrows of the oak-tree. 
So among the guests assembled 
At my Hiawatha's wedding 
Sat lagoo, old and ugly, 
Sat the marvellous story-teller, 

132 



THE SONG OF HIAWAJHA, 




And they said : " O good lagoo, 
Tell us now a tale of wonder. 
Tell us of some strange adventure, 
That the feast may be more joyous. 
That the time may pass mor gayly. 
And our guests be more contented ! " 

And lagoo answered straightway : 
" You shall hear a tale of wonder, 
You shall hear the strange adventures 
Of Osseo, the Magician, 
From the Evening Star descended." 



133 



THE SOXG OF HIAWATHA. 



|>iEp>im3iiiWK^ 




Then again sang Chibiabos, 
Sang a song of love and longing, 
In those accents sweet and tender, 
In those tones of pensive sadness, 
Sang a maiden's lamentation 
For her lover, her Algonquin. 

Such was Hiawatha's Wedding, 
Such the dance of Pau-Puk-Keewis, 
Sucii the story of lagoo, 
Such the songs of Chibiabos ; 



134 



Till!; SONG Ol- HIAWATHA. 



Thus tlie wedding banquet ended, 
And the wedding guests departed, 
Leaving Hiawatha happy 
With tlie night and Minnehaha. 




INDIAN DRUM. 



135 



THK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




"buried was the bloody hatchet." 



136 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 



CHAPTER XII. 




MAKING CORN MEAL. 

BLESSING THE CORN-FIELDS. 

Sing, O Song of Hiawatha, 

Of the happy days that followed, 

In the land of the Ojibways, 

In the pleasant land and peaceful ! 

Sinsj^ the mysteries of IMondaniin. 

Sini;- the lilessing of the Corn-fields! 



137 



TIII^ SONG OI' HIAWATHA. 

Buried was the bloody hatchet, 
Buried was the dreadful war-club, 
Buried were all warlike weapons. 
And the war-cry was forgotten. 
There was peace among the nations ; 
Unmolested roved the hunters. 
Built the birch canoe for sailing, 
Caught the fish in lake and river. 
Shot the deer and trapped the beaver ; 
Unmolested worked the women, 
Made their sugar from the maple, 
Gathered wild rice in the meadows. 
Dressed the skins of deer and beaver. 

All around the happy village 
Stood the maize-fields, green and shining. 
Waved the green plumes of Mondamin, 
Waved his soft and sunny tresses, • 
Filling all the land with plenty. 
'T was the women whcr in Spring-time 
Planted the broad fields and fruitful, 
Buried in the earth Alondamin ; 
'T was the women who in Autumn 
Stripped the yellow husks of harvest. 
Stripped the garments from Alondamin, 
Even as Hiawatha taught them. 

Once, when all the maize was ])lanted, 
Hiawatha, wise and thoughtful. 
Spake and said to Minnehaha, 

138 



Tin: SOXG 111' HIAWATHA. 




To liis wit'c, the Laughing Water: 

" Vol! shall bless to-night the corn-fields, 

Draw a magic circle round them. 

To protect them from destruction, 

r>last of mildew, blight of insect, 

\\'agemin, the thief of corn-fields. 

" Tn the night, when all is silence, 
In the night, when all is darkness. 
When the Spirit of Sleep, Xepahwin. 
Shuts the doors of all the wigwams, 



13<> 



THIC SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

So that not an ear can hear }oii. 
So that not an eye can see you, 
Rise up from your bed in silence, 
Walk around the fields you planted, 
Round the borders of the corn-fields. 
Covered by your tresses only, 
Robed with darkness as a garment. 
" Thus the fields shall be more fruitful, 

^ And the passing of your footsteps 
Draw a magic circle round them, 
So that neither blight nor mildew, 
Neither burrowing worm nor insect, 
Shall pass o'er the magic circle." 

On the tree-tops near the corn-fields 
Sat the hungry crows and ravens, 
Kahgahgee, the King of Ravens, 
With his band of black marauders. 
And they laughed at Hiawatha, 
Till the tree-tops shook with laughter. 
With their melancholy laughter 
At the words of Hiawatha. 
" Hear him ! " said they ; " hear the wise man ! 
Hear the plots of Hiawatha ! " 

When the noiseless night descended 
Broad and dark o'er field and forest. 
When the mournful Wawonaissa. 
Sorrowing sang among the hemlocks, 
And the Spirit of Sleep, Nepahwin, 



140 




THE SONG OI" HIAWATHA. 

Shut the doors of all the wigwams, 
From her bed rose Laughing Water, 
And with darkness clothed and guarded, 
Walked securely round the corn-fields, 
Drew the sacred, magic circle 
Of her footprints round the corn-fields. 

On the morrow, as the day dawned, 
Kahgaghee, the King of Ravens, 
Gathered all his black marauders, 
Crows and blackbirds, jays and ravens, 
Clamorous on the dusky tree-tops. 
And descended, fast and fearless, 
On the fields of Hiawatha. 
On the grave of the Mondamin. 

" We will drag ^Mondamin." said they, 
" From the grave where he is buried, 
Spite of all the magic circles 
Laughing Water draws around it, 
Spite of all the sacred footprints 
Minnehaha stamps upon it ! " 

But the wary Hiawatha 
Ever thoughtful, careful, watchful. 
Had o'erheard the scornful laughter 
When they mocked him from the tree-tops. 
" Kaw ! " he said, " m\ friends the ravens ! 
Kahgaghee, my King of Ravens ! 
I will teach }ou all a lesson 
That shall not be soon forgotten ! " 



141 



TIIK SOXG 01< HIAWATHA. 




He had risen before the da\break, 
He had spread o'er all the corn-fields 
Snares to catch the black marauders, 
And was lying now in anibtish 
In the neighboring grove of pine-trees, 
W^aiting for the crows and blackbirds, 

Waiting for the jays and ravens. 

Soon they came with caw and clamor. 
Rush of wings and cry of voices. 
To their work of devastation, 
Settling down upon the corn-fields. 
Delving deep with beak and talon. 
For the body of Mondamin. 
And with all their craft and cunning. 
All their skill in wiles of warfare, 
They perceived no danger near them, 
Till their claws became entangled. 
Till they found themselves imprisoned 
In the snares of Iliawatha. 

From his place of ambush came he. 
Striding terrible among them. 
And so awful was his aspect 
That the bravest quailed with terror. 
Without mercy he destroyed them 
Right and left, by tens and twenties. 
And their wretched, lifeless bodies 
Hung aloft on poles for scarecrows 
As a warnins; to marauders. 



142 



TIIK SOXC ()!• Iir.WVATITA. 

()iil\- Kahgahgcc, tlie leader. 
Kahgahg'ec, the I\ing' oi Ravens, 
He alone was spared among" them 
As a hostage for his people. 
With his prisoner-string he ])onnd him, 
Led him eaptive to his wigwam. 
Tied him fast with cords of elm-bark 
To the ridge-pole of his wigwam. 

" Kahgahgee, my raven ! " said he, 
■■ You the leader of the robbers, 
I will keep 3'ou. I will hold \ou. 
As a hostage for your people. 
As a pledge of good behavior ! " 

.\nd he left him. grim and sulky. 
On the summit of the wigwam. 

Summer passed, and Shawondasse 
Breathed his sighs o'er all the landsca]>e, 
From the South-land sent his ardors. 
Wafted kisses warm and tender ; 
And the maize-field grew and rii)cned. 
Till it stood in all the splendor 
Of its garments green and yellow, 
Of its tassels and its plumage. 
And the maize-ears full and shining 
Gleamed from bursting sheaths of verdure. 

Then Nokomis, the old woman. 
Sjjake, and said to Minnehaha: 
" 'Tis the Moon when leaves are falling; 
All the wild-rice has been gathered, 



143 



Tur; soxr, of ihawatha. 




And the maize is ripe and ready ; 
Let us gather in the harvest. 
Let us wrestle with Mondamin, 
Strip him of his phimes and tassels, 
Of his garments green and yellow ! " 

And the merry Laughing Water 
Went rejoicing from the wigwam, 
With Nokomis, old and wrinkled. 
And they called the women round tlicm. 
Called the young men and the maidens. 
To the harvest of the corn-fields, 



144 



THK SONC or" HIAWATHA. 

To the husking- of tlie maize-ear. 

On the border of the forest, 
Underneath the fragrant pine-trees, 
Sat the old men and the warriors 
Smoking in the pleasant shadow. 
In uninterrupted silence 
Looked they at the gamesome labor 
Of the young men and the women ; 
Listened to their noisy talking. 
To their laughter and their singing. 
Heard them chattering like the magpies, 
Heard them laughing like the blue-javs, 
Heard them singing like the robins. 
And whene'er some lucky maiden 
Found a red ear in the husking. 
Found a maize-ear red as blood is, 
" Xushka ! " cried they all together. 
" Xushka ! you shall have a sweetheart, 
You shall have a handsome husband ! " 
" L^gh ! " the old men all responded 
From their seats beneath the pine-trees. 

And whene'er a youth or maiden 
Found a crooked ear in husking. 
Found a maize-ear in the husking 
Blighted, mildewed, or misshapen, 
Then they laughed and sang together, 
Crept and limped about the corn-fields. 
Mimicked in their gait and gestures 



145 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Some old man, bent almost double. 
Till the corn-fields rang with laughter, 
Till from Hiawatha's wigwam 
Kahgahgee, the King of Ravens, 
Screamed and quivered in his anger. 
" I'gh ! " the old men all responded. 
From their seats beneath the pine-trees 




146 



THE SONG OK HIAWATHA. 



CHAPTER XUl. 




PICTURE-WRITIXG. 

Ix those (lays said Hiawatha: 
"Lo! how all things fade and perish! 
From the memory of the old men 
Fade away the great traditions." 
Thns said Hiawatha, walking 
In the solitary forest, 
Pondering, musing in the forest, 
On the welfare of his people. 



u: 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

From his pouch he took his colors, 
Took his paints of different colors, 
On the smooth bark of a birch-tree 
Painted many shapes and figures, 
Wonderful and mystic figures, 
And each figure had a meaning, 
Each some word or thought suggested. 

Gitche Manito the Mighty, 
He, the Master of Life, was painted 
As an egg, with points projecting 
To the four winds of the heavens. 
Everywhere is the Great Spirit, 
Was the meaning of this symbol. 

Mitche Manito the Mighty, 
He the dreadful Spirit of Evil, 
As a serpent was depicted. 
As Kenabeek, the great serpent. 
Very crafty, very cunning. 
Is the creeping Spirit of Evil, 
Was the meaning of this symbol. 

Life and Death he drew as circles. 
Life was white, but death was darkened; 
Sun and moon and stars he painted, 
Man and beast, and fish and reptile. 
Forests, mountains, lakes and rivers. 

For the earth he drew a straight line. 
For the sky a bow above it ; 
White the space between for day-time, 

148 



TIIU SOXG OF HIAWATHA. 




PICTURE WRITIXG OX BIRCH BARK. 

149 



tiil; sonc. uf iuawatha. 

Filled with little stars for night-time ; 
On the left a point for sunrise, 
On the right a point for sunset, 
On the top a point for noontide 
And for rain and cloudy weather 
Waving lines descending from it. 

Footprints pointing towards a wigwam 
Were a sign of invitation, 
Were a sign of guests assembling; 
Bloody hands with palms uplifted 
Were a sxmbol of destruction. 
Were a hostile sign and symbol. 

All these things did Hiawatha 
Show unto his wondering people, 
And interpreted their meaning. 

Thus it was that Hiawatha, 
In his wisdom, taught the people 
All the mysteries of painting. 
All the art of Picture-Writing, 
On the smooth bark of the birch-tree, 
On the white skin of the reindeer, 
On the grave-posts of the village. 




150 



TIIK SOXC. OF HIAWATHA. 



CIIAPTKK XI\' 




HIAWATHA'S LAMEXTATIOX. 

Ix those (lays the Evil S])irits. 
All the Manitos of mischief. 
Fearing Hiawatha's wisdom. 
And his love for Chibiahos, 
Jealous of their faithful friendship, 
And their noble words and actions, 
Made at length a league against theni. 
To molest them and destrov them. 



151 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Once when Peboan, the Winter, 
Roofed with ice the Big-Sea-Water, 
When the snow-flakes, whiding downward. 
Hissed among the withered oak-leaves, 
Changed the pine-trees into wigwams, 
Covered aU the earth with silence, — 
Armed with arrows, shod with snow-shoes. 
Heeding not his brother's warning, 
Forth to hunt the deer with antlers 
All alone went Chibiabos. 

Right across the Big-Sea- Water 
Sprang with speed the deer before him. 
With the wind and snow he followed. 
O'er the treacherous ice he followed. 
Wild with all the fierce commotion 
And the rapture of the hunting. 

But beneath, the Evil Spirits 
Lay in ambush, waiting for him, 
Broke the treacherous ice beneath him. 
Dragged him downward to the bottom. 
Buried in the sand his body, 
Drowned him in the deep abysses 
Of the lake of Gitche Gumee. 

From the headlands Hiawatha 
Sent forth such a wail of anguish, 
Such a fearful lamentation, 
That the bison paused to listen,- 
And the wolves howled from the prairies. 



152 



THK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




SNOW SHOES. 



153 



THK SONG Ol* HIAWATHA. 



And the thunder in the cUstance 

Woke and answered "I')aini-wawa !" 
Then his face witli black he painted, 

W^ith his robe his head he covered, 

In his wigwam sat lamenting. 

Seven long weeks he sat lamenting. 

Uttering still this moan of sorrow : — 

"He is dead, the sweet musician! 
He the sweetest of all singers ! 
He has gone from us for ever, 
He has moved a little nearer 
To the Master of all music, 
To the ]\Iaster of all singing! 
O my brother, Chibiabos ! " 

And the melancholy fir-trees 
Waved their dark green fans above him, 
Waved their purple cones above him, 
vSighing with him to console him, 
]\Iingling with his lamentation 
Their complaining, their lamenting. 
Came the Spring, and all the forest 

Looked in vain for Chibiabos. 

Then the medicine-men. the Medas, 

Came to visit Hiawatha ; 

Built a Sacred Lodge beside him. 

To appease him, to console him. 

Walked in silent, grave procession. 

Bearing each a pouch of healing, 




154 



TIIK SOXC. or" HIAWATHA. 




Skin of beaver, lynx, or otter, 
Filled with niag'ic roots and simples, 
Filled with very potent medicines. 

Then they shook their medicine-pouches 
O'er the head of Hiawatha, 
Danced their medicine-dance around him ; 
And upstarting wild and haggard. 
Like a man from dreams awakened, 
He was healed of all his madness. 



155 



the; song op HIAWATHA. 

Forth then issued Hiawatha, 
Wandered eastward, wandered westward, 
Teaching' men the use of simples 
And the antidotes for poisons, 
And the cure of all diseases. 
Thus was first made known to mortals 
All the mystery of Medaniin. 
All the sacred art of healing. 




CANADIAN LYNX. 



156 



THK SONG OF HIAWATHA, 



CHAPTER XV 




THE IIl^XTIXG OF PAU-PUK-KEEWIS. 

Pau-Puk-Keewis, the merry mischief-maker of the vil- 
lage, was a great gambler. One day, coming from his 
lodge in search of adventure, he found all the young men 
in lagoo's lodge, listening to his stories. He bounded into 
the wigwam shouting: 

" I am tired of all this talking, 
Tired of old lagoo's stories. 
Tired of Hiawatha's wisdom. 



157 



THK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Here is something to amuse you 
Better than this endless talking ! " 

From his pouch of wolfskin, he drew the game of Bowl 
and Counters, and challenged them to play. All the men 
of the village gathered around, and they played all night, 
till Pau-Puk-Keewis had won all their treasures. — 

" The best of all their dresses, 
Shirts of deer-skin, robes of ermine, 
Belts of wampum, crests of feathers, 
^^^arlike weapons, pipes and pouches." 

Then he went to Hiawatha's wigwam and found it de- 
serted, except for Kahgahgee, who was chained to the 
ridgepole. Seizing the raven, he wrung its neck and left 
its lifeless body hanging from the ridgepole, — 

" As an insult to its master, 
As a taunt to Hiawatha." 

" As a taunt to Minnehaha," he piled the household 
things in wild disorder and departed, whistling and sing- 
ing, to a rocky headland overlooking the lake. There he 
lay on his back, waiting for Hiawatha to return. As the 
seabirds f^ew over him, he killed them by tens and twen- 
ties, and threw their bodies to the beach below. At last 
the sea-gulls carried word to Hiawatha that Pau-Puk- 
Keewis was killing his brothers, and Hiawatha came in 
search of the mischievous fellow. 



158 



TIIK S(J.\G OF 11 lAUATlI A. 




PAU-PUK-KEKWIS. 



159 



THU SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Full of wrath was Hiawatha 
When he came into the village, 
Found the people in confusion, 
Heard of all the misdemeanors, 
All the malice and the mischief, 
Of the cunning Pau-Puk-Keewis. 

Hard his breath came through his nostrils, 
Through his teeth he buzzed and muttered 
Words of anger and resentment, 
Hot and humming, like a hornet. 
" I will slay this Pau-Puk-Keewis, 
Slay this mischief-maker ! " said he. . 
" Not so long and wide the world is, 
Not so rude and rough the way is, 
That my wrath shall not attain him, 
That my vengeance shall not reach him ! " 
Then in swift pursuit departed 
Hiawatha and the hunters 
On the trail of Pau-Puk-Keewis, 
Through the forest, where he passed it. 
To the headlands where he rested ; 
But they found not Pau-Puk-Keewis, 
Only in the trampled grasses. 
In the whortleberry-bushes, 
Found the couch where he had rested. 
Found the impress of his body. 

From the lowlands far beneath them, 
From the Muskoday, the meadow. 



160 



THE SONG ()K HIAWATHA. 

Pau-Puk-Keewis, turning- ]:)ack\\ arcl, 
Made a gesture of defiance, 
Made a gesture of derision ; 
And aloud cried Hiawatha, 
From the summit of the mountain : 
" Xot so long and wide the world is, 
Not so rude and rough the wa\ is. 
But my wratii shall overtake xou. 
And my vengeance shall attain vou !" 

Over rock and over river. 
Thorough bush, and brake, and forest. 
Ran the cunning Pau-Puk-Keewis; 
Like an antelope he bounded. 
Till he came unto a streamlet 
In the middle of the forest. 
To a streamlet still and tranquil, 
That had overflowed its margin. 
To a dam made b\- the beavers. 
To a pond of quiet water. 
Where knee-deep the trees were standing. 
Where the water-lilies floated. 
Where the rushes waved and whispered. 
From the bottom rose a beaver. 
Looked with two great eyes of wonder. 
Eyes that seemed to ask a question. 
At the stranger, Pau-Puk-Keewis. 

From the bottom rose the beavers, 
Silently above the surface 



161 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




Rose one head and then another, 
Till the pond seemed full of beavers. 

To the beavers Pau-Puk-Keewis 
Spake entreating, said in this wise: 
" Very pleasant is your dwelling, 
O my friends ! and safe from danger ; 
Can you not with all your cunning, 
All your wisdom and contrivance, 
Change me, too, into a beaver?" 

" Yes ! " replied Ahmeek, the beaver, 
He the King of all the beavers, 
" Let yourself slide down among us, 
Down into the tranquil water." 



162 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




Down into the pond among them 
Silently sank Pau-Puk-Keewis ; 
P>lack became his shirt of deer-skin, 
Black his moccasins and leggings, 
In a broad black tail behind him 
Spread his fox-tails and his fringes ; 
He was changed into a beaver. 



163 



THE SOXG OF HIAWATHA. 

" Make me large," said Pau-Puk-Keewis, 
" Make me large and make me larger, 
Larger than the other beavers." 
" Yes," the beaver chief responded, 
" When oiir lodge below you enter, 
In our wigwam we will make you 
Ten times larger than the others." 

Thus into the clear, brown water 
Silently sank Pau-Puk-Keewis ; 
Found the bottom covered over 
With the trunks of trees and branches, 
Jloards of food against the winter. 
Piles and heaps against the famine, 
Found the lodge with arching doorway, 
Leading into spacious chambers. 

Here they made him large and larger 
Made him largest of the beavers. 
Ten times larger than the others. 
"You shall be our ruler," said they; 
" Chief and king of all the beavers." 

But not long had Pau-Puk-Keewis 
Sat in state among the beavers. 
When there came a voice of warning 
From the watchman at his station 
In the water-flags and lilies. 
Saying: "Here is Hiawatha! 
Hiawatha with his hunters ! " 



164 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




Then ihey heard a cry above llieni. 
Heard a shouting and a tramping, 
Heard a crashing and a rushing. 
And the water round and o'er them 
Sank and sucked away in eddies. 
And tliey knew their dani was l)roken. 

On the lodge's roof the hunters 
Leaped, and broke it all asunder; 
Streamed the sunshine through the crevice 
Sprang the beavers through tlie (loor\va^•. 
llid iheniselves in deeper water. 
In the channel of the streamlet : 



1()5 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

But the mighty Pau-Puk-Keewis 
Could not pass beneath the doorway ; 
Pie was puffed with pride and feeding, 
He was swollen like a bladder. 

Through the roof looked Hiawatha, 
Cried aloud : " O Pau-Puk-Keewis ! 
Vain are all your craft and cunning. 
Vain your manifold disguises ! 
Well I know you, Pau-Puk-Keewis ! " 

With their clubs they beat and bruised him, 
Beat to death poor Pau-Puk-Keewis, 
Pounded him as maize is pounded, 
Till his skull was crushed to pieces. 

Six tall hunters, lithe and limber, 
Bore him home on poles and branches ; 
But the ghost, the Jeebi in him, 
Thought and felt as Pau-Puk-Keewis, 
Still lived on as Pau-Puk-Keewis, 
Till it took the form and features 
Of the cunning Pau-Puk-Keewis, 
Vanishing into the forest. 

But the wary Hiawatha 
Saw the figure ere it vanished, 
Saw the form of Pau-Puk-Keewis 
Glide into the soft blue shadow 
Of the pine-trees of the forest ; 
And behind it, as the rain comes, 



166 



THE SOXG OF HIAWATHA. 

Came the steps of Hiawatha. 

To a lake with many islands 
Came the breathless Pan-Puk-Keewis, 
Where among- the water-lilies 
Pishnekuh, the brant, were sailing; 

"Pishnekuh ! "' cried Pan-Puk-Keewis, 
"Pishnekuh! my brothers!" said he, 
" Change me to a brant with plumage, 
With a shining neck and feathers, 
Make me large, and make me larger, 
Ten times larger than the others." 

Straightway to a brant they changed him, 
With two huge and dusky pinions, 




167 



TIIIC SONG OJ? HIAWATHA. 

\\ ith a bosom smooth and rounded, 
With a bill like two great paddles, 
Made him larger than the others, 
Ten times larger than the largest. 
And they said to Pau-Puk-Keewis : 
" In your flying look not downward, 
Take good heed, and look not downward, 
Lest some strange mischance should happen. 
Lest some great mishap befall you ! " 

On the morrow as they journeyed, 
Buo3^ed and lifted by the South-wind, 
"V\'afted onward by the South-wind, 
Blowing fresh and strong behind them. 
Rose a sound of human voices, 
Rose a clamor from beneath them. 
From the lodges of a village, 
From the people miles beneath them. 

For the people of the village 
Saw the flock of brant with wonder. 
Saw the wings of Pau-Puk-Keewis 
Fla])ping far up in the ether. 
Broader than two doorway curtains. 

Pau-Puk-Keewis heard the shouting. 
Knew the voice of Pliawatha, 
Knew the outcry of lagoo. 
And, forgetful of the warning, 
Drew his neck in, and looked downward. 
And the wind that blew behind him 



168 



TIIK SON'G (JK IIIAWA'IIIA. 

Caui^-lit liis mi.i,^lny fan of feathers, 
Sent him vvheeHng, whirling downward! 
Dead among the shouting people, 
With a heavy sound and sullen. 
Fell the brant with broken ])inions. 

But his soul, his ghost, his shadow, 
Still survived as Pau-Puk-Keewis, 
Took again the form and features 
Of the handsome Venadizzc, 
And again went rushing onward, 
I'ollowed fast bv Hiawatha. 




169 



Till*; SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Came unto the rocky headlands. 

To the Pictured Rocks of sandstone. 

And the Old Man of the Mountain, 
Opened wide his rocky doorways, 
Giving Pau-Puk-Keewis shelter. 

There without stood Pliawatha, 
Found the doorways closed against him. 
Cried aloud in tones of thunder: 
"Open! I am Hiawatha!" 
But the Old Man of the Mountain 
Opened not, and made no answer. 

Then Waywassimo, the lightning, 
Smote the doorways of the caverns, 
With his war-clul) smote the doorways, 
Smote the jutting crags of sandstone. 
And the thunder, Annemeekee, 
Shouted down into the caverns, 
Saying: "Where is Pau-Puk-Keewis!" 
And the crags fell, and beneath them 
Dead among the rocky ruins 
Lay the cunning Pau-Puk-Keewis, 
Lay the handsome Yenadizze, 
Slain in his own human figure. 

Then the noble Hiawatha 
Took his soul, his ghost, his shadow, 
Spake and said : " O Pau-Puk-Keewis ! 
I will change you to an eagle, 
To Keneu, the great War-Eagle, 



170 



THE SOXG OF HIAWATHA. 

Chief of all the fowls with feathers, 
Chief of Hiawatha's chickens." 

And the name of Pau-Puk-Keewis 
Lingers still among the people, 
Lingers, still among the singers, 
And arnong the story-tellers ; 
And in \\'inter, when the snow-flakes 
Whirl in eddies round the lodges, 
\Mien the wind in gusty tumult 
O'er the smoke-flue pipes and whistles, 
"There," they cry, "comes Pau-Puk-Keewis; 
He is dancing through the village. 
Pie is gathering in his harvest!" 




171 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 



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172 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

CKAPTKR XVI. 




THE DEATH OF KWASIXD. 

Far and wide among the nations 
Spread the name and fame of Kwasind 
No man dared to strive with Kwasind. 
No man could compete with Kwasind. 
r>ut the miscliicvous Puk-W'udjies. 
They the envious Little People, 
They the fairies and the pigmies, 
Plotted and conspired against him. 

'■ If this hateful Kwasind." saiil tlu'}-, 
" If this great, outrageous fellow 

173 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Goes on thus a little longer, 

Tearing everything he touches, 

Rending everything to pieces. 

Filling all the world with wonder, 

What becomes of the Puk-Wudjies? 

Who will care for the Puk-Wudjies? 

He will tread us down like mushrooms, 

Drive us all into the water, 

Give our bodies to be eaten 

By the wicked Nee-ba-naw-baigs, 

By the Spirits of the water!" 

So the angry Little People 
All conspired against the Strong Man, 
All conspired to murder Kwasind, 
Yes, to rid the world of Kwasind, 
The audacious, overbearing, 
Heartless, haughty, dangerous Kwasind ! 

Now this wondrous strength of Kwasind 
In his crown alone was seated ; 
In his crown too was his weakness ; 
There alone could he be wounded. 

Even there the only weapon 
That could wound him, that could slay him, 
Was the seed-cone of the pine-tree, 
W^as the blue cone of the fir-tree. 
This was Kwasind's fatal secret. 
Known to no man among mortals ; 
But the cunning Little People, 



174 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

The Puk-W'udjies, knew the secret, 
Knew the only way to kill him. 
So they gathered cones together, 
Gathered seed-cones of the pine-tree, 
Gathered blue cones of the fir-tree, 
In the woods by Taquamenaw, 
llrought them to the river's margin. 
Heaped them in great piles together, 
Where the red rocks from the margin 
Jutting overhang the river. 
There they lay in wait for Kwasind, 
The malicious Little People. 

"T was an afternoon in Summer ; 
\>ry hot and still the air was, 
Yery smooth the gliding river, 
Motionless the sleeping shadows ; 
Insects glistened in the sunshine. 
Insects skated on the water, 
Filled the drowsy air with buzzing, 
With a far-resounding war-cry. 

Down the river came the Strong Man, 
In his birch canoe came Kwasind, 
Floating slowly down the current 
Of the sluggish Taquamenaw, 
\'cry languid with the weather, 
Very sleepy with the silence. 
\^ery sound asleep was Kwasind. 



175 



Tin: soxc. oi* hi.wvatha. 

S<» lie lloatod down the river. 
Like a bliiul nian seated upright, 
Floated down the Taquamenaw, 
I'nderneath the trembling birch-trees, 
Underneath the wooded headlands, 
I'nderneath the war encampment 
Of the pigmies, the Puk-Wudjies. 

There they stood, all armed and waiting. 
Hurled the pine-cones down upon him. 
Struck him on his brawny shoulders, 
On his crown defenceless struck him. 
" Death to Kwasind ! " was the sudden 
War-cry of the Little People. 

And he sideways swayed and tumbled, 
Sideways fell into the river, 
Plunged beneath the sluggish water 
Headlong, as an otter plunges ; 
And the birch-canoe, abandoned, 
Drifted empty down the river. 
Bottom upward swerved and drifted: 
Nothing more w'as seen of Kwasind. 

JUit the memory of the Strong ]\Ian 
Lingered long among the people. 
And whenever through the forest 
Raged and roared the wintry tempest, 
And the branches, tossed and troubled, 
Creaked and groaned and split asunder, 
"Kwasind!" cried they; "that is Kw.'isind! 
He is gathering in his fire-wood ! " 



176 



THE SONG Ol- HIAWATHA. 



CllAPTERXN ir. 




THK FAMIXK. 

O THi; long and dreary Winter! 
O the cold and cruel Winter ! 
Ever thicker, thicker, thicker 
Froze the ice on lake and river, 



177 




THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Ever deeper, deeper, deeper 

Fell the snow o'er all the landscape, 

Fell the covering snow, and drifted 

Through the forest, round the village. 
Hardly from his buried wigwam 

Could the hunter force a passage ; 

With his mittens and his snow-shoes 

\'ainly walked he through the forest, 

Sought for bird or beast and found none, 
Saw no track of deer or rabbit. 
In the snow beheld no footprints. 
In the ghastly, gleaming forest 
Fell, and could not rise from weakness, 
Perished there from cold and hunger. 
O the famine and the fever ! 

O the wasting of the famine ! 

O tile blasting of the fever ! 

O the wailing of the children ! 

O the anguish of the women ! 

All the earth was sick and famished ; 

Hungry was the air around them. 

Hungry was the sky above them, 

And the hungry stars in heaven 

Like the eyes of wolves glared at them ! 
Into Hiawatha's wigwam 

Came two other guests, as silent 

As the ghosts were, and as gloomy, 

Waited not to be invited, 



178 



TIIK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Did not parley at the doorway, 

Sat there without word of welcome 

In tlie seat of Laughing Water ; 

Looked with haggard eyes and hollow 

At the face of Laughing W^ater 

And the foremost said : " Behold me ! 

I am Famine, Bukadawin ! " 

And the other said: " l>ehol(l nic ! 

I am Fever, .\hkosewin ! " 

And the lovely IMinnehaha 
Shuddered as they looked upon her, 
Shuddered at the words the\' uttered, 
Lay down on her bed in silence. 
Hid her face, but made no answer : 
Lay there trembling, freezing, burning 

At the looks they cast upon her. 

At the fearful words the\- uttered. 
Forth into the empty forest 

Rushed the maddened Hiawatha ; 

In his heart was deadly sorrow. 

In his face a ston}^ firmness ; 

On his brow the sweat of anguish 

Started, but it froze and fell not. 

Wrapped in furs and armed for hunting. 

With his mighty bow of ash-tree. 

With his quiver full of arrows, 

W'ith his mittens, Minjckahwun, 

Into the vast and vacant forest 



179 




THIi SONc; OF HIAWATHA. 

On his snow-shoes strode he forward. 

" Gitche iNIanito, the Mighty ! " 
Cried he with his face uplifted 
In that bitter liour of anguish, 
"Give your children food, O father! 
Give us food, or we must perish ! 
Give me food for Minnehaha, 
For my dying Minnehaha ! "' 

Through the far-resounding forest, 
Through the forest vast and vacant, 




180 



THK SONG Of IIIAWATIIA. 

Rang that cry of desolation, 
But there came no other answer 
Than the echo of his crying. 
Than the echo of the woodlands, 
" Minnehaha! ^Minnehaha! " 

All day long roved Hiawatha 
In that melancholy forest, 
Through the shadow of whose thickets, 
In the pleasant days of Summer, 
Of that ne'er forgotten Summer. 
He had brought his young wife homeward 
From the land of the Dacotahs ; 
When the birds sang in the thickets. 
And the streamlets laughed and glistened. 
And the air was full of fragrance. 
And the lovely Laughing Water 
Said with voice that did not tremble : 
" I will follow you, my husband ! " 

In the wigwam with Nokomis. 
With those gloomy guests, that watched her. 
With the Famine and the Fever, 
She was lying, the Beloved, 
She the dying Minnehaha. 

" Hark !" she said ; " I hear a rushing. 
Hear a roaring and a rushing. 
Hear the Falls of Minnehaha 
Calling t(» me from a distance!" 



181 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




" No, my child ! " said old Nokomis, 

" 'Tis the night-wind in the pine-trees ! " 

" Look ! " she said ; " I see my father 
Standing lonely at his doorway, 



182 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Beckoning to me from his wigwam 

In the land of the Dacotahs ! " 

" Xo, my child ! " said old Xokomis, 

" 'Tis the smoke that waves and beckons ! " 

" Ah ! " she said, "the eyes of Pauguk 
Glare upon me in the darkness, 
I can feel his icy fingers 
Clasping mine amid the darkness ! 
I liawatha ! Hiawatha ! " 

And the desolate Hiawatha, 
Far away amid the forest, 
Miles away among the mountains, 
Heard that sudden cry of anguish, 
Heard the voice of Minnehaha 
Calling to him in the darkness : 
" Hiawatha ! Hiawatha ! " 

Over snow-fields waste and pathless, 
Under snow-encumbered branches. 
Homeward hurried Hiawatha, 
Empty-handed, heavy-hearted, 
Heard Nokomis moaning, wailing: 
" Wahonowin ! Wahonowin ! 
Would that I had perished for you, 
\\' ould that I were dead as you arc ! 
Wahonowin ! Wahonowin ! " 

And he rushed into the wigwam. 
Saw the old Nokomis slowly 
Rocking to and fro and moaning, 



183 



TUK SOXC C)l" HIAWATHA. 

Saw his lovely Miiinehalia 

Lying dead and cold before him, 

And his bursting heart within him 

Uttered such a cry of anguish, 

That the forest moaned and shuddered. 

That the very stars in heaven 

Shook and trembled with his anguish. 

Then he sat down, still and speechless. 
On the bed of Minnehaha. 
At the feet of Laughing Water, 
At those willing feet, that never 
More would lightly run to meet him, 
Never more would lightly follow. 

With both hands his face he covered, 
Seven long days and nights he sat there, 
As if in a swoon he sat there, 
Speechless, motionless, unconscious 
Of the daylight or the darkness. 

Then they buried Minnehaha ; 
Li the snow a grave the}- made her, 
In the forest deep and darksome. 
Underneath the moaning hemlocks ; 
Clothed her in her richest garments, 
Wrapped her in her robes of ermine, 
Covered her with snow, like ermine ; 
Thus they buried Minnehaha. 

And at night a fire was lighted, 
On her grave four times was kindled, 

184 



Till-: SONG UK HIAWATHA. 

For her soul upon its journey 
To the Islands of the Blessed. 
From his doorway Hiawatha 
Saw it burning in the forest, 
Lighting" up the gloomy hemlocks ; 
From his sleepless bed uprising. 
From the bed of Minnehaha, 
Stood and watched it at the doorway, 
That it might not be extinguished. 
Might not leave her in the darkness. 
" Farewell ! ' said he, " Minnehaha ! 
Farewell, () my Laughing Water! 
All m\' heart is buried with you. 
All my thoughts go onward with you ! 
Come not back again to labor. 
Come not back again to sufYer, 
Where the Famine and the Fever 
Wear the heart and waste the body. 
Soon my task will be completed. 
Soon your footsteps I shall follow 
To the Islands of the Blessed, 
To the Kingdom of Ponemah, 
To the Land of the Hereafter ! " 



185 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




186 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 




0^. 



THE WHITE MAN'S FOOT. 

Thus it was that in the Xorthland 
After that unheard-of coldness, 
That intolerable Winter, 
Came the Spring with all its splendor. 
All its birds and all its blossoms. 

From his wandcrincTS far to eastward, 



187 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

From the regions of the morning, 
From the shining land of Wabun, 
Homeward now returned lagoo, 
The great traveler, the great boaster, 
Full of new and strange adventures, 
Marvels many and many wonders. 

And the people of the village 
Listened to him as he told them 
Of his marvellous adventures, 
Laughing answered him in this wise : 
" Ugh ! it is indeed lagoo ! 
No one else beholds, such wonders ! " 

He had seen, he said, a water 
Bigger than the Big-Sea-Water, 
Broader than the Gitche Gumee, 
Bitter so that none could drink it ! 
At each other looked the warriors. 
Looked the women at each other, 
Smiled, and said : "It cannot be so ! 
Kaw ! " they said, " it cannot be so ! " 

O'er it, said he, o'er this water 
Came a great canoe with pinions, 
.\ canoe with wings came flying, 
Bigger than a grove of pine-trees, 
Taller than the tallest tree-tops ! 
And the old men and the women 
Looked and tittered at each other ; 
" Kaw ! " they said, " we don't believe it ! 

188 



THE S()\(". OF HIAWATHA. 

From its mouth, he said, to greet him, 
Came Waywassimo,- the Hghtning, 
Came the thunder, Annemeekee ! 
And the warriors and the women 
Laughed aloud at poor lagoo ; 
" Kaw ! " they said. " what tales you tell us ! 

Tn it, said he, came a people. 
In the great canoe with pinions 
Came, he said, a hundred warriors ; 
Painted white were all their faces, 
And with hair their chins were covered ! 
And the warriors and the women 
Laughed and shouted in derision. 
Like the ravens on the tree-tops, 
Like the crows upon the hemlocks. 
" Kaw ! " they said, " what lies you tell us ! 
Do not think that we believe them ! " 

Only Hiawatha laughed not. 
But he gravely spake and answered 
To their jeering and their jesting: 
" True is all lagoo tells us ; 
I have seen it in a vision. 
Seen the great canoe with pinions, 
Seen the people with white faces. 
Seen the coming of this bearded 
People of the wooden vessel 
From the regions of the morning, 
From the shining land of Wabun. 

.189 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

" Gitche Alanito the Mighty, 
The Great Spirit, the Creator, 
Sends them hither on his errand, 
Sends them to us with his message. 
Whersoe'er they move, before them 
Swarms the stinging fly, the Ahmo, 
Swarms the bee, the honey-maker; 
Whersoe'er they tread, beneath them 
Springs a flower unknown among us, 
Springs tlie White-man's Foot in blossom. 

" Let us welcome, then, the strangers, 
Hail them as our friends and brothers, 
And the heart's right hand of friendship 
Give them when they come to see us. 
Gitche ]\Ianito, the Mighty, 
Said this to me in mv vision." 




190 



THE SOXG OK HIAWATHA. 



CHAPTER XIX. 




HIAWATHA'S DEPARTl'RE. 

\W the shore of Oitche Giimee, 
By llic shinint^ I'ij^-Sea-Water. 
At the doorway of his wigwam. 
In tlie pleasant Summer morninjj^, 
Hiawatha stood and waited. 



191 



THK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

All the air was full of freshness, 
All the earth was bright and joyous, 
And before him, through the sunshine. 
Westward toward the neighboring forest 
Passed in golden swarms the Ahmo, 
Passed the bees, the honey-makers. 
Burning, singing in the sunshine. 

O'er the water, floating, flying, 
Something in the hazy distance, 
Something in the mists of morning, 
Loomed and lifted from the water, 
Xow seemed floating, now seemed flying, 
Coming nearer, nearer, nearer, 

Was it Shingebis the diver? 
Was it the pelican, the Shada? 
Or the heron, the Shuh-shuh-gah ? 
Or the white goose, Waw-be-wawa, 
With the water dripping, flashing 
From its glossy neck and feathers? 

It was neither goose nor diver, 
Neither pelican nor heron. 
O'er the water floating, flying. 
Through the shining mist of morning. 
But a birch canoe with paddles, 
Rising, sinking on the water. 
Dripping, flashing in the sunshine ; 
And within it came a people 
From the distant land of Wabun, 

192 



'niK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 



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From the farthest rcahns of morning 
Came the Ijlack-Robe chief, the Prophet, 
He the Priest of Prayer, the Pale-face, 
Willi his guides and his companions. 

And the noble TTiawatha, 
With his hands aloft extended. 
Meld aloft in sign of welcome, 
Waited, full of exultation, 
Till the birch canoe with paddles 
Grated on the shining pebbles. 



193 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Stranded on the sandy margin, 
Till the Black-Robe chief, the Pale-face, 
With the cross upon his bosom. 
Landed on the sandy margin. 
Then the joyous Hiawatha 
Cried aloud and spake in this wise: 
" Beautiful is the sun, O strangers, 
When you come so far to see us ! 
All our town in peace awaits you, 
All our doors stand open for you ; 
You shall enter all our wigwams, 




194 



THE SOXG OF HIAWATHA. 

For the heart's right hand we give you. 

" Never bloomed the earth so gayly, 
Never shone the sun so brightly, 
As to-day they shine and blossom 
When you come so far to see us ! 
Never was our lake so tranquil, 
Nor so free from rocks and sand-bars ; 
For your birch canoe in passing 
Has removed both rock and sand-bar. 

" Never before had our tobacco 
Such a sweet and pleasant flavor. 
Never the broad leaves of our corn-fields 
Were so beautiful to look on, 
As they seem to us this morning, 
When you come so far to see us ! " 

And the Black-Robe chief made answer, 
Stammered in his speech a little, 
Speaking words yet unfamiliar : 
" Peace be with you, Hiawatha, 
Peace be with you and your people. 
Peace of prayer, and peace of pardon, 
Peace of Christ, and joy of Mary ! " 

Then the generous Hiawatha 
Led the strangers to his wigwam. 
Seated them on skins of bison. 
Seated them on skins of ermine, 
And the careful, old Nokomis 
Brought them food in bowls of bass-wood, 



195 



THU SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




Water brought in birchen dippers, 
And the calumet, the peace-pipe. 
Filled and lighted for their smoking. 

All the old men of the village. 
All the warriors of the nation, 
And the medicine-men, the Medas, 
Came to bid the strangers welcome; 



196 



THIC SOXG OF HIAWATHA. 

" It is well," they said, "(J brothers, 
That you come so far to see us ! " 

In a circle round the doorway, 
With their pipes they sat in silence, 
Waiting- to behold the strangers, 
Waiting to receive their message; 

Then the Black-Robe chief, the prophet, 
Told his message to the people, 
Told the purport of his mission, 
Told them of the \'irgin 'Slary, 
And her blessed Son, the Saviour. 

And the chiefs made answer, saving: 
" \\ c have listened to your message. 
We have heard your words of wisdom, 
We will think on what you tell us. 
It is well for us, () brothers, 
That you come so far to see us ! " 

Then they rose up and departed • 
Each one homeward to his wigwam, 
To tiie young men and the women 
Told the story of the strangers 
^^'hom the Master of Life had .sent them 
From the shining land of Wabun. 

Heavy with the heat and silence 
Grew the afternoon of Summer ; 
With a drowsy sound the forest 
Whispered round the sultry wigwam. 
With a sound of sleep the water 
Rippled on the beach below it ; 
From the corn-field shrill and ceaseless 



197 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Sang the grasshopper, Pah-puk-keena : 
And the guests of Hiawatha, 
Weary with the heat of Summer, 
Slumbered in the sultry wigwam. 

Slowly o'er the simmering landscape 
Fell the evening's dusk and coolness, 
And the long and level sunbeams 
Shot their spears into the forest, 
Breaking through its shields of shadow, 
Rushed into each secret ambush. 
Searched each thicket, dingle, hollow; 
Still the guests of Hiawatha 
Slumbered in the silent wigwam. 

From his place rose Hiawatha, 
Bade farewell to old Nokomis, 
Spake in whispers, spake in this wise. 
Did not wake the guests, that slumbered: 

" I am going, O Nokomis, 
On a long and distant journey, 
To the portals of the Sunset, 
To the regions of the home-wind. 
Of the Northwest wind, Keewaydin. 
But these guests I leave behind me. 
In your watch and ward I leave them ; 
See that never harm comes near them. 
See that never fear molest them, 
Never danger nor suspicion, 
Never want of food or shelter, 
In the lodge of Hiawatha ! " 

198 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




Forth into the village went he, 
Bade farewell to all the warriors, 
Bade farewell to all the young men, 
Spake persuading, spake in this wise : 

" I am going, O my people, 
On a long and distant journey ; 
Many moons and many winters 
Will have come, and will have vanished, 
Ere I come again to see you. 
But my guests I leave behind me ; 
Listen to their words of wisdom. 
Listen to the truth they tell you, 
For the Master of Life has sent them 
From the land of light and morning ! " 



199 



THE SONG OP HIAWATHA. 

On the shore stood Hiawatha, 
Turned and waved his hand at parting; 
On the clear and luminous water 
Launched his birch canoe for sailing, 
From the pebbles of the margin 
Shoved it forth into the water ; 
Whispered to it, " Westward ! westward ! 
And with speed it darted forward. 







And the evening sun descending 
Set the clouds on fire with redness. 
Burned the broad sky, like a prairie, 
Left upon the level water 
One long track and trail of splendor, 

200 



the; song of iiiawatha. 

Down whose stream, as clown the river, 
Westward, westward Iliawatlia 
Sailed into the fiery sunset, 
Sailed into the purple vapors, 
Sailed into the dusk of evening. 

And the jjeople from the margin 
Watched him floating, rising, sinking, 
Till the birch canoe seemed lifted 
High into that sea of splendor, 
Till it sank into tiie vapors 
Like the new moon slowl}', slowly 
Sinking in the purple distance. 
And they said: "Farewell for ever!" 
Said, "Farewell, (J Hiawatha!" 
And the forests, dark and lonely, 
Moved through all their depths of darkness, 
Sighed: "Farewell, O Hiawatha!" 
And the waves upon the margin 
Rising, rippling on the pebbles. 
Sobbed : " Farewell, O Hiawatha ! " 

Thus departed Hiawatha, 
Hiawatha, the Beloved, 
In the glory- of the sunset. 
In the purple mists of evening. 
To the regions of the home-wind, 
Of the Northwest wind Keewaydin, 
To the Islands of the Blessed, 
To the kingdom of Ponemah, 
To the land of the Hereafter ! 



201 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




Hiawatha's departure. 



202 



The Hiawatha Legend 
Biographical Sketch 
Indian Songs 
Publishers' Note 
Note to Teachers 
Vocabulary 



203 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




INDIAN SUMMER. 

204 



TUE SONC OF HIAWATHA. 



TIIK IITAWATITA LEGEXD. 

In tlie myths of the North American Inchans, there was 
one central lii^ure that towered alcove all others. Among 
the Iroquois he was known as Hiawatha; the western Algon- 
(juins spoke of him as ]\Ianabozo, while the Eastern Algon- 
(juins called him Glooskap, the master. This central figure 
was believed to be a messenger of the Great Si)irit, sent 
to deliver the nations from all evil. 

The word "Hiawatha" literally means "He makes 
rivers." Hiawatha was an historical character, a noted 
Iroquois reformer, statesman and legislator, who lived 
about 1570 A. D., and who was the chief founder of the 
Iroquois confederation of the five nations. By birth he 
was probably a Mohawk. 1 le overcame much opposition 
and was regarded as ha\ing supernatural and magical 
powers. 

In time, the character of Hiawatha became enveloped in 
much mystery, and it is the mystical, rather than the real. 
Hiawatha, that is described in Mr. Longfellow's beautiful 
song. 

Poetic license has also been used to ascribe to the hero 
actions and qualities belonging to Manabozo, Glooskap 
and other traditional Indian characters; in fact Mr. Long- 
fellow originally called his poem "The Song of Manabozo," 
later substituting "Hiawatha" as being more musical. The 
poet has taken the chief legends of the Indian people and 
woven them around liis central figure, Hiawatha. 

205 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

The home of Hiawatha, as described by Mr. Longfellow, 
was in the north country bordering on the great lakes and 
the river St. Lawrence. The heart of the Hiawatha land 
was the Sault Ste. Marie. 

Here the tribes assembled in their great councils to 
smoke the pipe of peace, to determine the boundaries of 
their hunting and fishing grounds, and to worship Gitche 
Manito, the Mighty. Here, also, the warriors gathered to 
go forth to battle, and, instead of the great steamships of 
today, the canoes of war parties stole stealthily along in the 
quiet shadows. Hither came the trappers, the daring voy- 
ageurs and the traders, bringing their goods to exchange for 
the peltries of the Indians; and a little later came the mis- 
sionaries known as the Black Robes, the story of whose 
sufifering while teaching Christianity among the forest 
people, is one of the pathetic tales of American history. 

The Hiawatha country is a land of streams and rivers 
that roar through many gorges, forming falls and cata- 
racts and rapids. It was also a land of great forests, which 
gave shelter to the Indian people for many generations. 
before the coming of the white man. It is one of the most 
beautiful and picturesque portions of the American con- 
tinent. 

The origin of the Indian people is unknown, even to 
themselves. Their history, as far as it is known, has been 
one of warfare and battle ; they loved the hero, and their 
chieftains ruled by might and personal prowess. 

Although rapidly disappearing as a race, the Indians are 
leaving their names behind them. Many of our streams 
and rivers, lakes and mountains, towns and cities, and more 
than half the states in the Union, bear Indian names ; and, 
besides, there remain more than a score of interesting 
legends, chief of which is the beautiful Hiawatha tradition. 

> 206 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 



Mr. Longfellow began "The Song of Hiawatha" June 
25th, 1854, and finished it March 29th, 1855. As soon as 
it was published, it became very popular and its popularity 
has grown with the years. 





K w^J^' ■ ^1 





207 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 




SPECIMEN OF INDIAN HANDIWORK. 



208 




TIIK SOXG (U" HIAWATHA. 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
Oil one of the quiet 
streets of Cambridge, 
Mass., there stands an old 
colonial dwelling, built 
in 1759. known as the 
"Craigie House," and oc- 
cupied by Washington dur- 
ing the Revolutionary War. 
Later it became the home 

of Henry W. Longfellow, the place where his six children 
were born, two boys and four girls, five of whom grew into 
manhood and womanhood. The old house, which had 
resounded to the tramp of soldiery, the clank of sword 
and spur, echoed for many years with the patter of childish 
footsteps and the gentle laughter of the poet, as he joy- 
full}- received his boys and girls in his study. For although 
a busy man, with his duties as professor in Harvard Col- 
lege, and as a literary man, he never denied the children 
access to his library. Indeed, this room was a never- 
ending source of pleasure, a place full of interesting- 
objects to delight the hearts of small folks. There were 
the wonderful scales, made by the poet himself, of orange 
peel, so necessary for young tradespeople ; and toy n-ioney 
saved from packages of matches ; a drawerful of pictures 
of the wonderful Peter Piper, falling from his horse while 
hunting, or riding on a whale after being chased by a shark 
at sea — one never knew when there would be a new adven- 
ture, so versatile was the poet-artist. Chief of all was 
Merrythought, made of a wishbone with head and feet of 
wax, gay in a red cape, and a feather in his cap. ( )ne 
section of a desk drawer was reserved for marbles, and a 
corner of the carpet, the pattern of which seemed s|)ecially 



209 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

made for a game, was always kept clear of chairs and 
tables. Pets also were not wanting in this household ; rab- 
bits, hens, turtles, and dogs, chief of which was "Trap," 
the Scotch terrier. 

The holidays, Christmas, Valentine's, Halloween, May 
Day, and Independence Day, were always celebrated in a 
way that the children could enjoy. Indeed, children's 
parties occupied not a little of the leisure time of the poet. 
He entered into all the fun, all the games. He had time to 
carry on a correspondence with one of his little girls, his 
pillow being the post office. He loved to correspond with 
children. 

The poet's affection for children was not confined to 
those of his own family. His love extended to all children ; 
"living poems" he called them. He said, "What a beautiful 
world this child's world is ; so instinct with life, so illumi- 
nated with imagination ; I take infinite delight in seeing it go 
on around me, and feel all the tenderness that fell from 
the blessed lips, 'Suffer little children to come unto me.' " 

And the children loved the poet, whose heart beat in 
sympathy with theirs. On his 72nd birthday, a chair made 
of the wood of the spreading chestnut tree that shadowed 
the village smithy was presented to him by the school 
children of Boston and Cambridge. He called this chair 
his throne — a happy thought for one who reigned in the 
hearts of the givers. He said in his speech of acceptance, 
"Only your love and your remembrance could give life to 
this dead wood." 

This beautiful sympathy lasted to the end. On the 
last Saturday of his life, within six days of his death, weak 
with suffering, he received four schoolboys from Boston, 
showed them the objects of interest in his library and wrote 
his name in their albums. 

210 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

During his last illness, knowing that their good and 
loving friend might be disturbed by noise, the boys and 
girls of Cambridge, in going to and from school, passed 
quietly by the house where la}' the poet who had sung him- 
self into the hearts of the children — into the hearts of all 
children — for all time. In his poem, "Children," he says: 
"Come to me, O ye children ! 

And whisper in my ear 

What the birds and winds are singing 

In your sunny atmosphere. 

Ye are better than all the ballads 
That ere were sung or said ; 
For ye are living poems. 
And all the rest are dead." 




211 



THE SOXr, OF" HIAWATHA. 



Cradle Song. 

"E-wa-yea, My Little Owlet." 



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tpt 



Tt-^Il 



E - wa-yea, my lit - tie owl 



E - wa-yea. 



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Wlio is tliis that lights the wig - warn. 



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212 



THK SOXr, Ol* HIAWATHA. 






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liglii« 



the wij; 



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213 



the; song of hiawatha. 



My Bark Canoe. 



Very slow. 



^-4— !• — i^— F4 



lE^e^i"^^ 



rlt 



3EE 



yi 



^4: 



-I '- 

In the still iii^ht, llie loiij; hours through, I guide rny 



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j._ — 5---g- ^- 



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fcM 



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^iSE 



-A— *-•- 



balk ca-iioe, My 



bark ca - iioe, My 



love, to jou. While the 






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n=.\=±:±z.^ 



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te^H 



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=4 



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stars shine, and 



falls tlie dew, I 



seek my love in 












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214 



THK SONG OF HIAWATHA. 



^ f 







f- 



^^W:^ 



4 -^ r- 



3^S^^ 



K ^ 1 B— 

I, love, your lev - er true. Who glides the stream in 






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215 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 



Hiawatha's Departure. 




Solo. 



Piano 



Mourn yenot; I go up-on a jour- ney, I Hi - a - wa - tha, 




soon will have de-part-ed. Mourn ye not; my jour-ney is e-ter-nal. 




I Hi-a-wa - tha, soon will have gone for - ev - er 




216 



THE SOXG OF HIAWATHA. 



Response 

Tutti. 



.Fare thee well, then, Hi - a - wa - tha! Fare thee well, Oh! 




faj-e thee well for- ev - erl Sinks the sun, our prophet goeth onward. 




217 



PUBLISHERS' NOTE 

REVEREND ROBERT GEORGE, the Editor of this 
book, is a recognized authority and an eminent lec- 
turer on Indian life and legends. He has spent 
many summers with the different tribes of Indians, and 
most of our illustrations are the product of his camera, 
taken "In the Land of Hiawatha." 

A heresy has arisen. During the last decade, perhaps 
a million children have been taught to pronounce the word 
"Hiawatha" incorrectly. The correct pronunciation is Hi'a- 
wa'tha (hl'a-wo'tha ). The authorities agree that there is 
no warrant for any other. We quote : 

1. Webster's New International Dictionary, page 
1014: "Hi'a-wa'tha (hi'a-wo'tha), a Alohawk chief- 
tain of the 16th century, who effected the confedera- 
tion known as the Five Nations or League of the 
Iroquois. The Iroquoian pronunciation is lu'oN- 
hwa'h'tha'h (first syllable like Jiigli)." 

2. Dr. F. W. Hodge, Ethnologist-in-charge : 



SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 

BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOQV 
WASHINQTON. O. C. 



November 7 f 1912. 
Dear Sir: 

In answer to yovir Inquiry of November 5th I am 
encloaing an excerpt of a brief article on Hiawatha In which 
the correot pronunciation is given. The j^ represents an 
unaspirated breathing, while indicates a glottal atop or 
glottal closxire. For popular and praotioal purposes the 
name may be pronounced Hi-a-wa-tha ( i. as in find: a as in 
father). There is no warrant for the pronunciation of the 
word with the 1. sounded as 1^ in machine. 
Yours truly, 




NOTE TO TEACHERS 



Children love the story of "HIAWATHA" and find great delight 
in its beautiful rhythm. After a pleasurable season with it, they may 
easily be led to read more of Longfellow. They should be given access 
to the following: 



Paul Revere's Ride 

The Old Clock on the Stairs 

Children 

The Children's Hour 

The Courtship of Miles Standish 

Sandalphon 

The Reaper and the Flowers 



The Village BlacKsmith 

The Bell of Atri 

King Robert of Sicily 

Evangeline 

The Arrow and the Song 

The Building of the Ship 

A Psalm of Life 



"The Hiawatha Reader" is peculiarly adapted 
to the following uses : 

F^irst — As A Reader, in grades above the t/iird. 

Its material is unrivaled as a means of creating and fostering 
a love of poetry; or for dramatic reading in the middle grades. 

Second — As Language Work. 

The illustrations offer nimsual opportunity for picture-study 
exercises, and suggest many possibilities for dramatization. 




219 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 



VOCABULARY. 

Acijidau'mo, the red squirrel. 
Ahkose'win, fever. 
Ahmeek'', tJie heaver. 
Ah'mo, the bee. 
Algon'quin, Ojibz\.'ay. 
Annemee'kee, the thunder. 
Apuk'wa, a bulrush. 

Baim-wa'wa, the sound of the thunder. 
Big-Sea-Water, Lake Superior. 
Bukada'win, famine. 

Cheemaun', a birch canoe. 

Chibia''bos, a musician: friend of Hiaicatha; ruler in the 
Land of Spirits. 

Esa, shame upon you. 
Ewa-yea', lullaby. 

Gee^zis, the sun. 

Gitche Gu'mee, the Big-Sea-Water, Lake Superior. 
Gitche Man'ito, the Great Spirit, the Master of Life. 
Gushkewau', the darkness. 

Hiawa'tha, the Jl'ise Man, the Teacher: son of Mudjckee- 
zvis, the West-Wind, and Wcnonah, daughter of Noko- 
mis. 



220 



THE SOXG or HIAWATHA. 

la'goo, the great boaster and story-teller. 
Ishkoodah', fire; a comet. 

Jee'bi, a ghost, a spirit. 
Joss'akeed, a prophet. 

Ka'bcyun, fJie West-Wind. 

Kabibonok'ka, the Xorth-Wind. 

Kagh, the hedgehog. 

Ka'go, do not. 

Kahgahgee', the raven. 

Kaw, no. 

Kaween', no indeed. 

Kayoshk', tJie sea-gull. 

Keeway'din, the Xorthwest -c^'iiid. the Hoine-zciud. 

Kena'beek, the great serpent. 

Keneu', the great zvar-eagle. 

Keno'zha, the pickerel. 

Kwa'sind, the Strong Man. 

Mahnahbe'zee, the szi'an. 

Mahng, the loon. 

Mahn-go-tay'see, loon-hearted brave. . 

Ma'ma, the icoodpecker. 

Man'ito, Spirit. 

Maskeno'zha, the pike. 

Me'da, a inedieine-nian. 

Me'damin, the art of healing. 

Megissog'won, the great Pearl-feather, a magician, and the 
Manito of Jl^ealth. 

Minjekah'wun. Hia:catha's mittens. 

Minncha'ha, Laughing IJ^ater; a zvater-fall on a streani run- 
ning into the Mississippi, beticeen fort Snelling and the 
Falls of St. Anthony. 

Minneha'ha, Laughing Jl^ater; zvife of Hiaz^'atha. 



221 



THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. 

Minne-wa'wa, a pleasant sound, as of the icind in the trees. 

Mishe-Mo'kwa, the Great Bear. 

Mishe-Nah'ma, the Great Sturgeon. 

Mitche Alanito, Spirit of evil. 

Monda'min, maize; Indian corn. 

Moon of Bright Nights, April. 

Moon of Leaves, May. 

Moon of Strawberries, June. 

Moon of the FalHng Leaves, September. 

Moon of Snow-shoes, November. 

Mudjekee'wis, the West-Wind; father of Hiazvatha. 

Mudway-aush'ka, sound of zvavcs on a shore. 

Mus'koday, the meadow. 

Nah'ma, the sturgeon. 

Nawada'ha, a szveet singer. 

Nee-ba-naw'baigs, zvater-spirits. 

Nepah'win, spirit of sleep. 

Noko'mis, a grandmother; mother of Wenonah. 

Nush'ka, look! look! 

Onaway', awake. 

Ope'chee, the robin. 

Osse'o, Son of the Evening Star. 

Owais'sa, the blue-bird. 

Pau'guk, death. 

Pau-Puk-Kee'wis, the handsome Yenadisze, the Storm Fool. 

Pauwa'ting, Sault Salute Marie. 

Pe'boan, Winter. 

Pem'ican, meat of the deer or buffalo. 

Pezhekee', the bison. 

Pishnekuh', the brant. 

Pone'mah, hereafter. 



222 



THE SO NX OF HIAWATHA. 

Puggawau'gun, a xcar-chib. 

Pukwana, smoke of the Peace Pipe. 

Puk-Wudj'ies, little n'ild men of the luoods; pigmies. 

Sah'wa, the perch. 
Sliah'-shah, long ago. 
Shaugoda'ya, a coward. 
Shawgashec', the craw-fish. 
Shawonda'see, the South-Wind, 
Shavv-shaw, the swallozv. 
Shin'gebis, the diver. 
Shuh-shuh'-gah, the blue heron. 
Soan-ge-ta'ha, strong-hearted. 

Tam'arack, tJie larch-tree. 

Tawasen'tha, X or man's Kill. Albany County, Nezv York. 

Ugh, yes. 

UgLidwash', the sun-Hsh. 

Unktahee', the god of zcater. 

Wabas'so, the rabbit; the Xorth. 

Wa'bun, the East JVind. 

Wahono'win, a cry of lamentation. 

Wah-wah-tay'see, the fire-fly. 

Wam'pum, beads of shell. 

Wa'wa, the wild-goose. 

Waw'beek, a rock. 

\\'aw-be-\va'\va, the zvhitc goose. 

Wawonais'sa, the zi'hippoorz\.'ill. 

Waywassimo, the lightjiing. 

WcnMigoes, gia)its. 

Weno'nah, Hiazvalha's mother, daughter of Xokoinis. 

Yenadiz'ze, an idler and gambler; an Indian dandy. 

223 



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